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

Satronia tantilla Heinrich, 1926 - Southern Pine Catkinworm Moth

Satronia tantillaSatronia tantillaSatronia tantillaSatronia tantilla
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tortricoidea Family: TortricidaeSubfamily: OlethreutinaeTribe: GrapholitiniP3 Number: 51a1292 MONA Number: 3415.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Heinrich (1926)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Hedlin et al. (1980)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following description is based in part on that of Heinrich (1926). The antennae, palps, face and head vary from grayish white to light brown, while the thorax is grayish fuscous. The forewing ground color is grayish fuscous, but often tends towards orangish brown on the apical third. The most conspicuous marks are a pair of moderately broad and outwardly curved or angulated, leaden, metallic bands that extend from the costa before the middle to just beyond the middle of the inner margin. The ocelloid patch is a single vertical metallic bar that is outwardly margined by 4-6 short, faint, black dashes on a ground that is faintly dusted with white. The costal third has three or four whitish to leaden metallic dashes, with the anteriormost often elongated and in some cases extending to the ocellus to form an outwardly angulated band. The termen is edged in black and the fringe is leaden fuscous with a whitish line at the base that adjoins the black line on the termen. The hindwing is pale smoky fuscous and the fringe dull whitish with a dark basal band.

Satronia tantilla is often confused with Cydia marita, but in the latter, 1) there are usually three elongated dashes in the ocellus rather than four or more short dashes or spots, 2) there are often two streaks from the costa that tend to converge toward the anterior bar on the ocellus to form the angulated post-median band, versus a single streak for S. tantilla, 3) the terminal three gray striae on the costal margin often continue well into the interior of the wing and may faintly cut the black line on the termen, while those of S. tantilla are short and do not extend into the interior of the wing, and 4) the post-median band is set farther from the outer margin and contacts the inner margin well before the tornus, versus at or near the tornus in S. tantilla.
Adult Structural Features: Heinrich (1926) has an illustration of the male genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larvae primarily feed on the catkins of southern pines. The females lay eggs on the bud scales of expanding male flower clusters and the larvae bore into the male flower buds and clusters of developing male flowers. The larvae produce fine yellow frass that is webbed together on the catkin surfaces (Hedlin et al., 1980). Pupation occurs within the infested catkins, and often in the base of shriveled flower parts. The mature larva are around 6 mm long and are white with a dark anal comb, anal shield, and head capsule.

Hedlin et al. (1980) noted a second generation of moths has been reared from conelets infected by southern cone rust (Cronartium strobilinum) and that moths have emerged in the fall from branch and stem galls caused by southern fusiform rust (C. fusiforme). As such, as many as three generations can be produced annually in some areas by relying on these secondary food resources.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Satronia tantilla is largely restricted to the southeastern US, with records extending from eastern Texas and Arkansas eastward to Florida and northward to as far as Maryland and Massachusetts. As of 2022, we have only three site records for the state, two from the eastern Piedmont and one from a lower-elevation site in the Blue Ridge.
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: Specimens have been documented nearly year-round in Florida where there can be three generations or more per year, and from March through August elsewhere. As of 2022, our records are from mid-March through early June.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: This species is dependent on pine trees as hosts and is typically found in either pine forests or mixed pine-hardwood settings.
Larval Host Plants: The larval feed primarily on pine catkins (Brown et al. 1983; Hedlin et al., 1980) and the known host include Slash Pine (Pinus elliottii) and Longleaf Pine (P. palustris). Other pines are undoubtedly used since populations have been documented well outside of the range of these two species, including in North Carolina. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and the larvae can be found in pine catkins during the spring months.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S2-S3]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This species is seemingly uncommon in North Carolina despite the widespread occurrence of pines in the state. We need more information on host use, distribution, and abundance before we can assess the conservation status of this species in North Carolina.

 Photo Gallery for Satronia tantilla - Southern Pine Catkinworm Moth

Photos: 9

Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-02
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and John Petranka on 2023-06-14
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and John Petranka on 2023-05-18
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-03-24
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-02-23
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, L.M. Carlson, Becky Watkins on 2022-06-09
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-05-26
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-04-07
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-03-20
Madison Co.
Comment: Specimen was verified by Richard Brown.