Moths of North Carolina
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106 NC Records

Retinia gemistrigulana (Kearfott, 1905) - Gray Retinia

Retinia gemistrigulanaRetinia gemistrigulanaRetinia gemistrigulanaRetinia gemistrigulana
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tortricoidea Family: TortricidaeSubfamily: OlethreutinaeTribe: EucosminiP3 Number: 51a0727 MONA Number: 2898.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Kearfott (1905)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Retinia gemistrigulana is distinctive among our Retinia in having an overall grayish color with a patchwork of lighter and darker gray marks that are separated by thin, blackish, transverse lines. The following description is based in part on that of Kearfott (1905) from specimens that were collected from Tryon, North Carolina. The head, palp, and thorax are light gray and speckled with fuscous and black, while the antenna is light gray and annulated with black. The forewing is pale gray overall and consists of an array of elongated, irregular patches that are delineated by numerous dark gray to blackish transverse lines. The patches are predominantly light gray, but usually have several darker patches interspersed. The cilia are gray, and the hindwing is dark gray with paler cilia. The abdomen and anal tuft are both gray.
Wingspan: 19-21 mm (Kearfott, 1905)
Adult Structural Features: Miller (1978) has an illustration of the male genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Very little has been reported on the larval life history. The larvae are one of the pitch-blister moths that feed internally on conifer stems and create nodules from resin, frass, and silk netting.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Retinia gemistrigulana is widely distributed across much of the eastern US and adjoining areas of southern Canada (Nova Scotia westward to Ontario and Alberta). In the US the range extends from Maine southward to Florida and westward to Michigan, Wisconsin, Missouri, and eastern Texas. As of 2022 our records are almost all from the Coastal Plain and eastern and central Piedmont, with the exception of Polk and Buncombe counties to the west.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Flight Comments: Local populations are presumed to be univoltine throughout the range as is the case with other Retinia. Specimens have been observed from March-July in different areas of the range, with southern populations active from March-April and northern populations from April-July. As of 2022, our records extend from mid-April through mid-July, with a peak in May in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont, and June in the lower mountains.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Local populations presumably use pines as hosts and have been found in habitats that range from sandy, xeric Sandhill communities to semi-wooded residential neighborhoods in the eastern Piedmont.
Larval Host Plants: Apparently not recorded (Brown et al., 2008; Robinson et al., 2010), but other members of this genus feed on pines. The range in North Carolina suggests that this species primarily relies on one or more of the southern pine species as hosts. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights. More information is needed on host use and the habitat requirements for this species.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S4S5
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This species is widespread and locally common in the Coastal Plain and eastern Piedmont and shows no evidence of widespread declines.

 Photo Gallery for Retinia gemistrigulana - Gray Retinia

77 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-06
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-01
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-26
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-26
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-25
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-05-25
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-19
Rowan Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-19
Rowan Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2024-05-13
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2024-05-13
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-05-07
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-04-30
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-04-30
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2024-04-29
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2024-04-17
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2024-04-16
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2024-04-16
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2024-04-16
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2024-04-16
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-10
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-06
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-06-02
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-05-25
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Erich Hofmann, Jesse Anderson on 2023-05-22
New Hanover Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2023-05-21
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-05-21
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka and Jim Petranka on 2023-05-18
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-05-17
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka, Chuck Smith on 2023-05-12
Bladen Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-05-12
Durham Co.
Comment: