Moths of North Carolina
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
 Family (Alpha):
« »
View PDFTortricidae Members:
Eucosma Members:
12 NC Records

Eucosma ochroterminana (Kearfott, 1907) - Buff-tipped Eucosma Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tortricoidea Family: TortricidaeSubfamily: OlethreutinaeTribe: EucosminiP3 Number: 620835.00 MONA Number: 2929.00 MONA Synonym: Phaneta ochroterminana
Comments: Eucosma ochroterminana is one of five species with similar genitalia that Wright and Gilligan (2015) recognized as the parmatana species group.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Kearfott (1907a); Wright and Gilligan (2015)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This is a distinctive species that has a light brownish head and a blackish-brown forewing, except for the apical fourth that is mottled with light brownish yellow. The following detailed description is based in part of that of Kearfott (1907a). The head and palps have elongated scales that are light brown, while the antenna is dark brown and lighter towards the base. The patagia is light brown and the thorax light brown with a dark brown streak on the posterior half. The inner three-fourth of the forewing is dull blackish-brown and is flecked with a few brown scales. Faint darker-black lines are often evident, and a few brown scales are present at the extreme base. The apical fourth of the wing and the fringe is light brownish yellow and usually mottled with slightly darker scaling. The ocellus is slightly lighter than the surrounding areas and has two or three horizontal black lines. The hindwing is light smoky brown and becomes lighter towards the base. The fringe is paler, with both a darker and a paler line at the base. The tibiae and tarsi are annulated and streaked with blackish-brown.
Wingspan: 11-15.5 mm (Kearfott, 1907a).
Forewing Length: 5.0 to 6.5 mm (Miller, 1987), 4.8-6.2 mm; mean = 5.4 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 parmatana species group. The general description for members of this group follows.

In males, the uncus is moderately developed with the apex usually rounded. The valva has a concave costal margin, and the ventral emargination is deep to moderate and U-shaped. The saccular corner is angulate, and the cucullus is elongate, with the dorsal lobe strongly developed. The apex is rounded and the distal margin is convex to nearly straight, while the ventral lobe is moderately developed and the anal angle is narrowly rounded. Wright and Gilligan (2015) noted that the male genitalia of E. ochroterminana are generally similar to those of E. parmatana. The cucullus is long and relatively narrow, but the ventral lobe has a stronger tendency to angle toward the saccular corner in E. ochroterminana.

In females, the papillae anales are moderately setose and microtrichiate. The sterigma is moderately elongated, and the lamella postvaginalis is rectangular, with the lateral margins fused with the posterior lobes of sternum 7. Sternum 7 has moderately to strongly developed semi-triangular lateral extremities. Scaling of sternum 7 is dense on the posterior lobes and lateral projections, and relatively sparse elsewhere. The ductus bursae has a sclerotized ring at the juncture with the ductus seminalis, and the corpus bursae has one signum that is slightly larger than the other. Wright and Gilligan (2015) noted that females of E. ochroterminana have a particularly elongated sterigma.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Putman (1942) observed larvae feeding on Tall Goldenrod where they webbed together several flower heads and fed inside.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Eucosma ochroterminana occurs primarily in eastern North America, but has been found in southern Canada from Alberta eastward to Prince Edward Island. In the US the range extends from Maine westward through the Great Lakes region to Minnesota, and southward to Oklahoma, Alabama, and Georgia. It is generally absent from much of the southeastern Coastal Plain. As of 2022, all of our records are from the Blue Ridge and Piedmont.
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 appear to be univoltine. Specimens have been observed from April through October in different areas of the range, with a seasonal peak in activity from July through September. As of 2022, our records extend from late-August to late-September.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Local population are typically associated prairies, old-fields, and other early-successional sites that support goldenrods.
Larval Host Plants: Observations of host use are very limited. Putman (1942) observed larvae that were feeding on the flowers of Tall Goldenrod (Solidago altissima). - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights. More information is needed on host use in North Carolina.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S3S4]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This species uses early successional habitats which are common in North Carolina. Scattered populations have been found throughout the Piedmont and Blue Ridge and populations appear to be secure.

 Photo Gallery for Eucosma ochroterminana - Buff-tipped Eucosma Moth

Photos: 6

Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-09-06
Davidson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-09-06
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-09-22
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-09-22
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2018-08-30
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2016-09-12
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: