Moths of North Carolina
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Pelochrista Members:
1 NC Records

Pelochrista zomonana (Kearfott, 1907) - No Common Name

Pelochrista zomonana
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tortricoidea Family: TortricidaeSubfamily: OlethreutinaeP3 Number: 51a0960.1 MONA Number: 3168.00
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: Pelochrista zomonana is a member of the canana species group as recognized by Wright and Gilligan (2017). This group contains 10 species that have distinctive genitalia that distinguish them from other groups, but remarkably uniform genitalia across members of the group that provides little diagnostic information. Most of the members are western, and the three eastern species (P. womonama, P. zomonana, and P. vandana) are sufficiently different to be recognized based on external characteristics. Among these, P. zomonana is the only species that has been found in North Carolina as of 2022.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Wright and Gilligan (2017)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: In this species, the head, antenna, thorax, and ground color of the forewings are concolorous and smoky gray. The first two segments of the labial palps are smoky gray and the third black. The smoky gray ground of the forewing is overlain with two conspicuous dark brown to brownish-black marks -- a sub-basal patch that extends from the inner margin to the middle of the wing -- and a pretornal patch that occurs on the dorsal half and is usually separated from the inner margin by a small gap. The ocellus and costal strigulae are concolorous with the ground. The former has gray bars on the lateral margins and two or three blackish dashes in the central field, while the latter has dark streaks interspersed between the lighter strigulae. A dark costal spot is usually evident at the apex and the hindwing is brown. Wright and Gilligan (2017) noted that this is the smallest member of the canana species group (mean FWL = 5.8 mm vs. 6.8-9.6) and size alone is sufficient to separate it from all other members of the group.
Forewing Length: 4.9-6.8 mm; mean 5.8 mm (Wright and Gilligan, 2017)
Adult Structural Features: Members of the canana species group all have very similar genitalia and the following is a general description for the members of the group as provided by Wright and Gilligan (2017). In males the uncus is weakly developed, evenly rounded, and barely differentiated from the dorsolateral shoulders of the tegumen. The socii are long, broad, and gradually narrow distally with the dorsal margin indented at the base. The phallus is relatively long and tapers distally, with the base loosely surrounded by the anellus. The vesici has 4-25 cornutii. The costal margin of the valva is nearly straight from the base of the neck to the apex of the cucullus and the ventral emargination is moderate. The saccular corner is angulate and the medial surface of the neck has a conspicuous subcostal line of hairlike setae. The dorsal lobe of the cucullus is weakly developed and rounded, while the ventral lobe is moderately developed, often somewhat triangular, and has a stout anal spine directed ventrodistally from the vertex of the anal angle. Setation of the medial surface is course and relatively sparse.

In females, the papillae anales are uniformly setose, with hook-tipped setae along the margins of the ventral opening. The sterigma is Type III, with the ostium shielded by a V-shaped projection from the posterior extremity of sternum 7. The lamella postvaginalis is rectangular and microtrichiate, and often with the posterior margin concave. Sclerotization of sternum 7 is strong and in bands along the lateral margins, but weak elsewhere. The membrane between sterna 6 and 7 has variably developed pockets that enclose the anterior extremities of the sclerotized bands on sternum 7. The ductus bursae often has a weakly expressed and poorly defined patch of sclerotization near the ductus seminalis, and usually has a patch of microtrichia on the inner surface at that location. The juncture of the ductus bursae and corpus bursae is located on the dorsal surface of the bursa, with the adjacent dorsal and lateral portions of the surface thickened and wrinkled. The corpus bursae has two signa of nearly equal size, one situated on the posterior half of the ventral surface, and the other on the dorsal surface near the juncture with the ductus bursae.

Wright and Gilligan (2017) noted that male P. zomonana are very similar to P. womonama and P. vandana and are only distinguished by the number of cornuti (9-14 vs. 12-25 and 12-20) and the saccular angle (85° vs. 64° and 67°). In females, the medial projection of the posterior margin of sternum 7 is more strongly developed, the sclerotized bands on sternum 7 are broader, and the pockets between sterna 6 and 7 are somewhat shallower.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Immatures and Development: The larval life history and ecology are undocumented.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Based on specimens that they examined, Wright and Gilligan (2017) listed the range as extending from Minnesota to Connecticut, and southward to Mississippi and North Carolina. They identified specimens from Arkansas, Illinois, Connecticut, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. As of 2022, we have a single record from the Piedmont.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Pelochrista zomonana
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: The adults fly from at least late May through mid-September (Wright and Gilligan, 2017). As of 2022, our one record is from late May.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The habitats are poorly documented.
Larval Host Plants: The hosts are unknown. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
State Protection:
Comments: As of 2022 we have a single record for this species and do not have sufficient information on its habitat preference, host use, distribution, and abundance to accurately assess its conservation status.

 Photo Gallery for Pelochrista zomonana - No common name

Photos: 1

Recorded by: Harry Wilson on 2012-05-23
Wake Co.
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