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

Gretchena bolliana (Slingerland, 1896) - Pecan Bud Moth

Gretchena bollianaGretchena bollianaGretchena bollianaGretchena bolliana
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tortricoidea Family: TortricidaeSubfamily: OlethreutinaeTribe: EucosminiP3 Number: 51a1171 MONA Number: 3263.00
Comments: Gretchena is a New World genus with 12 recognized species. Eleven species occur in North America, and eight of these are endemic to eastern North America.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Gilligan and Epstein (2014)Technical Description, Immature Stages: MacKay (1959)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This species most commonly has an overall grayish color with varying amounts of light brownish dusting and fine blackish speckling, but some individuals may have a more brownish caste. The inner margin of the forewing has two prominent grayish marks that include an inwardly directed, triangular mark at around one-fourth, and a much larger and more rectangular-shaped mark that extends from around one-half the wing length to the outer edge. The anterior edge of the latter is outwardly oblique and both marks extend inward to near the center of the wing. Patches or irregular lines of blackish scaling are usually present where the two grayish marks on the inner margin meet, and along the outer margin of the posterior mark. The latter commonly form an irregular, jagged, black streak that narrows and projects to the apex. The raised scale tufts are prominent on the two grayish marks along the inner margin and give the forewing a bumpy appearance. The ocellus is poorly-defined, and the hindwing is uniformly grayish-brown.

Gretchena bolliana resembles several other Gretchena, especially G. deludana (Gilligan and Epstein, 2014). The latter has a much shorter flight season and tends to fly earlier in the year than G. bolliana. In addition, the black streaks on the forewing are noticeably narrower on G. deludana. Worn specimens of G. bolliana -- or the occasional specimen with poorly developed black streaks -- may require the examination of genitalia for a positive identification.
Wingspan: 18 mm (Forbes,1924)
Adult Structural Features: Gilligan et al. (2008) and Gilligan and Epstein (2014) have illustrations and descriptions of the genitalia, which are distinctive. In this species, the male genitalia are characterized by a small uncus, socii, and a uniquely-shaped cucullus, while the female genitalia have an ostium that is shielded by the posterior portion of sternum VII, along with two thorn-like signa in the corpus bursae.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The following life history account is based on that of Moznette et al. (1931) when using Pecan as a host. The females lay whitish eggs on either the upper surfaces of leaves during the growing season or on twigs during the spring prior to bud-break. The overwintering adults begin to lay eggs as soon as the buds on the trees begin to open, and typically on an area of the twig that is next to a bud. The larvae hatch after 3-6 days of development and feed primarily on the buds, but will also feed on the leaves. The larval period typically last from 21-29 days, at which point the final instar pupates either in a rolled-up leaflet or in infested buds. On rare occasion they may also pupate under bark scales. The pupal stage lasts 8-13 days, with the adults starting a new generation shortly after emerging and mating. Populations in the southernmost areas of the range can have as many as 5-6 generations per year.

The final instar is around 12-14 mm long and has a semitransparent, yellowish-green body that is sparsely covered with fine hairs. The head can vary from yellow to shiny dark brown and has black pigmentation laterally. The prothoracic shield also varies from yellow to dark brown, but is jet black on young larvae (Moznette et al., 1931; Gilligan and Epstein, 2014).
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Gretchena bolliana occurs throughout much of the eastern US and in bordering areas of Ontario. In the US, the range extends from Massachusetts and New York southward to central Florida, and westward to central Texas, central Oklahoma, central Kansas, central Nebraska, southern Wisconsin and Minnesota. As of 2024, most of our records are from the Piedmont and lower elevations in the Blue Ridge, with one site record from the 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 fly year-round in the southernmost areas of the range and mostly from April through October ay northern locales. Local populations in North Carolina appear to produce two or more generations per year that in many cases are overlapping. Adults from the final generation overwinter and begin breeding with the spring warm-up and leaf-out. They are often active in small numbers during warm winter nights. As of 2024, our records extend from January through December.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Most of our records come from semi-wooded residential neighborhoods where the larvae are likely using hickories and walnuts. Records from natural areas include mesic slopes and bottomland hardwoods.
Larval Host Plants: The larvae feed on walnuts and hickories (Kearfott, 1908; Forbes, 1923; Moznette et al., 1931; MacKay, 1959; Kimball, 1965; Prentice, 1966; Mizell and Schiffhauer, 1986; Godfrey et al., 1987; Robinson et al., 2010; Lam et al., 2011; Beadle and Leckie, 2018). The reported hosts include Water Hickory (Carya aquatica), Pecan (C. illinoinensis), Butternut (Juglans cinerea) and Black Walnut (J. nigra). Moznette et al. (1931) noted that this species has been reported using various species of hickories, but the specific species were not reported. Pecan may have been the primary host where C. illinoinensis grew naturally prior to its widespread planting elsewhere in the eastern US. Other members of the Juglandaceae were presumably used outside of the natural range of C. illinoinensis. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Wet-Mesic Hardwood Forests
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 Gretchena bolliana - Pecan Bud Moth

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

Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-11-18
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-11-18
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2024-10-13
Davidson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2024-06-25
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-24
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-05-13
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-01
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-04-01
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-04-01
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-03-13
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-03-13
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-03-04
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-03-03
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-02-26
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-02-26
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2024-02-09
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-01-25
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-12-18
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-11-05
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-10-28
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-10-28
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2023-06-06
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-04-04
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-03-25
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-03-24
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-03-24
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-03-24
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-03-23
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-03-05
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-03-04
Durham Co.
Comment: