Moths of North Carolina
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Pelochrista Members:
2 NC Records

Pelochrista fiskeana Kearfott, 1905 - No Common Name

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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tortricoidea Family: TortricidaeSubfamily: OlethreutinaeTribe: EucosminiP3 Number: 51a0990.1 MONA Number: 3129.00 MONA Synonym: Eucosma fiskeana
Comments: Pelochrista is a large Holarctic genus of tortricids with around 75% of the 226 described species being native to North America (Wright and Gilligan, 2017). The highest species richness occurs in the western half of North America. The genus has a long and confusing taxonomic history, with many of the species formerly placed in the genus Eucosma. Gilligan et al. (2014) conducted a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of Pelochrista, Eucosma, and related genera and redefined the genus Eucosma and Pelochrista based on differences in female genitalia. The great majority of Pelochrista species are known only from adults, which likely reflects the fact that the larvae of most species bore into stem bases and roots and are concealed from view. Members of the Asteraceae are the likely hosts for most species (Wright and Gilligan, 2017), but much work need to be done to identifying the hosts.
Species Status: Wright (2015) examined the syntypes of Pelochrista fiskeana and a previously described species, P. pandana, and found no consistent differences in genitalia, color, or forewing pattern. He synonymized P. pandana with P. fiskeana.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Wright (2015)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following description is based on that of Wright (2015). The frons is pale tan and the vertex scales are brownish gray with tan tips. The medial surfaces of the first and second segments of the labial palp vary from tan to white, the lateral surfaces are brownish gray to blackish gray, and the third segment is blackish brown. The antenna is brown with a scape that has a blackish mark on the dorsal surface. The dorsal surface of the thorax is brown to dark grayish brown. The anterior surfaces of the foreleg and midleg are blackish brown, while the posterior surfaces are tan. The hindleg is largely tan. The foreleg and midleg have tan marks at the midtibia and the distal end of the tibia, and the tarsi have tan annulations.

The ground color of the forewing is light brown to blackish brown and is overlain with dark brown fasciae. they are thinly edged with white and usually contrast with the paler interfascial areas. A subbasal fascia is present that is chevron-shaped, nearly complete, and often weakly interrupted by paler scaling. The median fascia is complete and forms a wide band that is outwardly oblique from the mid-costa to the pre-tornal portion of the inner margin. A narrow postmedian band is also present that extends from the costa to the mid-termen and is often constricted or interrupted on the radius. The ocellus varies from being well-defined to obscure and has lustrous gray bars on the proximal, distal, and posterior margins. The central field of the ocellus is concolorous with the interfasial areas and crossed by up to four black dashes. The distal one-half of the costa has inconspicuous paired whitish strigulae and associated lustrous gray striae. The termen has a thin white line from M2 to the apex that is followed distally by a band of white-tipped, blackish-gray scales from the tornus to the apex. Both the fringe of the forewing and the entire hindwing are grayish brown.
Forewing Length: 7.0–11.6 mm (mean = 9.2; Wright, 2015)
Adult Structural Features: Wright (2015) has detailed descriptions and illustrations of the male and female genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Very little is known about the larval life history.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Wright (2015) examined 80 specimens and documented a range from North Carolina, Ohio, and Illinois, south to Florida, Mississippi, and Texas.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Pelochrista fiskeana
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 (2015) reported that the adults fly from mid-April (in Texas) to October (in Texas), with most collections occurring in June, July or August. Our only dated record is from mid-October.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The preferred habitats are poorly documented. Our only record as of 2022 is from an annual burn seep in the Sandhills.
Larval Host Plants: The host plants are undocumented. - View
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
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