Moths of North Carolina
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25 NC Records

Eucosma umbrastriana (Kearfott, 1907) - Smoky-striped Eucosma

Eucosma umbrastrianaEucosma umbrastrianaEucosma umbrastrianaEucosma umbrastriana
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tortricoidea Family: TortricidaeSubfamily: OlethreutinaeTribe: EucosminiP3 Number: 51a0764 MONA Number: 2913.00 MONA Synonym: Phaneta umbrastriana
Comments: Eucosma umbrastriana is a member of the radiatana species group of Wright and Gilligan (2015). This group includes a complex of 9-13 species that have been difficult to resolve due to their overall external appearances, suspected sexual dimorphism in forewing coloration and patterning in some species, and a scarcity of well-defined diagnostic features in the genitalia. Wright and Gilligan (2015) recognized only nine species in North America and relegated four previously recognized species to synonymy.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Kearfott (1907); Wright and Gilligan (2015)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following is based in part on Kearfott's (1907) original description. The palps are gray and the head varies from being gray in females to more yellowish brown in males. The antenna is light brown and darker at the base, while the thorax is straw-colored with a thin brown central line and a broader lateral line on each side. In males the forewing ground is straw colored and usually has a diffused median streak of pale umber that extends from the base to where it joins heavier orangish brown shading on the outer third of the wing. In females the orangish brown shading may cover most of the wing. The ocellus consists of a double bar of leaden scales that are often joined below to form a U-shape. The costal lines (strigulae) on the apical third are poorly developed, and the cilia are dark brown and preceded by a line of gray and black dots on the termen. The hindwing is smoky brown with a lighter brown to whitish fringe and is preceded by a darker line. Females tend to have darker hindwings than the males.

Males of E. umbrastriana is most likely to be confused with E. radiatana. The males are generally similar, but those of E. umbrastriana have a heavy wash of orangish-brown on the apical third. In addition, the contrast between the central region of the thorax and the brownish streaks along the sides is less pronounced in E. umbrastriana compared with that of E. radiatana.
Wingspan: 16-18 mm (Kearfott, 1907)
Forewing Length: 7.9-10.2 mm; mean = 9.0 mm (Wright and Gilligan, 2015)
Adult Structural Features: Wright and Gilligan (2015) provide illustrations of the male and female genitalia, along with a general description of the genitalia that applies to all members of the radiatana species group. The general description for members of this group follows. In males the uncus is weakly developed and sometimes reduced to a slight bulge. The valva is variably arched laterally, with costal margin weakly concave and the ventral emargination moderate. The neck is somewhat elongate and nearly uniform in width, and the saccular corner is usually angulate. The cucullus has the dorsal and ventral lobes moderately developed. The distal margin varies from convex to nearly straight, and the basoventral margin projects in a ridgelike manner onto the medial surface of the neck. Wright and Gilligan (2015) noted that the male genitalia of E. umbrastriana are similar to those of E. radiatana, but that the neck is somewhat shorter (about 1.4 x the width versus 1.6).

In females the papillae anales are moderately setose and microtrichiate. The lamella postvaginalis is rectangular and microtrichiate with the central trough slightly depressed. Sternum 7 has the posterior lobes moderately to broadly rounded and joined to the lateral margins of the lamella postvaginalis by moderately broad bands of sclerotized membrane. The posterolateral margins are straight to weakly concave, while the lateral extremities are triangular and well developed. Scaling of sternum 7 is dense on the posterior lobes and lateral extremities, and moderate elsewhere. The ductus bursae is encircled and somewhat contorted by a broad sclerotized band at the juncture with the ductus seminalis.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larval life history is undocumented.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Eucosma umbrastriana appears to be rather broadly distributed across portions of eastern North America from South Carolina, Alabama, and Texas northward to southern Canada. In Canada the range extends from Nova Scotia to as far west as Alberta and British Columbia. Wright and Gilligan (2015) examined specimens from New Hampshire to Alberta, and southward to Maryland, Kentucky, and Colorado. As of 2022, our records are restricted to the Piedmont and Blue Ridge.
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: Wright and Gilligan (2015) reported a flight season of May through early June. As of 2022, our records are mostly from late-April through May, with a couple of late-season records in July.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our records are mostly from wooded or semi-wooded habitats.
Larval Host Plants: Lam et al. (2011) list a host record for goldenrod (Solidago sp.), but we are uncertain of the literature source for this record. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S3-S4]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: We currently do not have sufficient information on host use, habitat requirements, distribution, and abundance to accurately assess the conservation status of this species within the state.

 Photo Gallery for Eucosma umbrastriana - Smoky-striped Eucosma

Photos: 30

Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-20
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2024-05-11
Transylvania Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2024-05-08
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2024-05-08
Transylvania Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-05
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-02
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-05-13
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-05-04
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-03
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-03
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-04-30
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-05-20
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-05-03
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-04-28
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-04-28
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-04-28
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-04-27
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2020-05-13
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2020-05-13
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-05-04
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-05-04
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2020-05-02
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2020-05-02
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-08
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-08
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-03
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-02
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2015-05-06
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2014-07-11
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Harry Wilson on 2010-05-12
Wake Co.
Comment: