Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Tortricidae Members:	Sonia Members:	51 NC Records

Sonia paraplesiana Blanchard, 1979 - Hebrew Sonia

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Tortricoidea

Family:
Tortricidae

Subfamily:
Olethreutinae

Tribe:
Eucosmini

P3 Number:
51a1117

MONA Number:
3218.10

Comments: Sonia is a taxonomically challenging genus because many of the traditionally recognized species are difficult to distinguish based on either external patterning, genitalia, or DNA barcoding. Sonia constrictana and S. paraplesiana are two morphologically similar forms that were previously considered to occur sympatrically throughout the eastern U.S. In the latest revision of the genus, Wright and Gilligan (2023) recognized these two species based on subtle differences in external morphology and genitalia, but restricted to populations that occur in Texas eastward to Louisiana. The more widespread constrictana-like populations that occur throughout the eastern U.S. were all assigned to S. paraplesiana. As such, S. constrictana (sensu stricto) is no longer a part of the North Carolina fauna.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Adult Markings: This forewing of this species is dark reddish-brown to blackish brown with a wide, light interfascial bar that extends more-or-less perpendicular from near the middle of the inner margin before terminating well beyond the middle of the wing. The bar is margined basally with a thin whitish line that separates it from the dark-scaled, posterior region of the basal third of the wing, with the latter becoming lighter towards the wing base. The posterior margin of the interfascial bar has a conspicuous, central, finger-like projection that runs between two dark brown blotches that are thinly margined with lighter scales. The finger-like projection connects -- or nearly connects -- with the ocellus, which is concolorous. The two dark blotches include a roughly triangular-shaped mark along the inner margin, and a smaller and more oval-shaped mark that opposes it towards the costa. The costa has a series of alternating whitish strigulae and longer reddish-brown lines, with the latter projecting towards the outer margin. Just before the apex, there is an inverted V-shaped dark mark with white slashes on both sides.

Forewing Length: 4.2-8.5 mm (mean = 6.3 mm; Wright and Gilligan, 2023).

Adult Structural Features: Wright and Gilligan (2023) have illustrations and descriptions of the male and female genitalia.

Genitalia and other structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Sonia paraplesiana occurs from Maine and other New England states southward to Florida and westward to eastern Texas, eastern Oklahoma, Missouri, eastern Nebraska and Minnesota. It also has been documented in adjoining areas of Manitoba and Quebec. As of 2024, we have records from all three physiographic regions, with the great majority from the eastern Piedmont and Coastal Plain.

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: The adults mostly have been documented from May through September in different areas of the range, with a seasonal peak in June through August, but have a more extended flight season in Florida where the fly from February through December (Wright and Gilligan (2023). As of 2024, our records extend from mid-April through early-October. Populations in the Coastal Plain appear to have two generations per year.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats:

Larval Host Plants: Larvae reportedly feed on Groundsel-tree (Baccharis halimifolia) (Robinson et al., 2010); however, we are unaware of any published literature that documents this and it needs additional verification. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.

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:

Photo Gallery for Sonia paraplesiana - Hebrew Sonia

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

	Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2025-09-19 Onslow Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-09-07 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-09-07 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rob Van Epps, Kevin Metcalf on 2025-07-20 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-06-19 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-06-19 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-06-01 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Brian Bockhahn, Jim Petranka, John Petranka, Becky Elkin on 2025-05-09 Cumberland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Brian Bockhahn, Jim Petranka, John Petranka, Becky Elkin on 2025-05-09 Cumberland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-09 Cumberland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, John Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-08 Harnett Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-25 Columbus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-25 Columbus Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-04-14 Bladen Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-08-27 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Patrick Coin, Steve Hall, Carol Tingley, Tom Howard on 2024-07-27 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George on 2024-07-04 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Hunter Phillips on 2024-06-21 Onslow Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Hunter Phillips on 2024-06-21 Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Hunter Phillips on 2024-06-21 Onslow Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-06-16 Carteret 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 2024-04-17 New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-09-16 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-26 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-07-16 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-13 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Erich Hofmann, Jesse Anderson on 2023-05-22 New Hanover Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2023-05-21 New Hanover Co. Comment: