Moths of North Carolina
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Gymnandrosoma Members:
153 NC Records

Gymnandrosoma punctidiscanum (Dyar, 1904) - Dotted Ecdytolopha Moth

Gymnandrosoma punctidiscanumGymnandrosoma punctidiscanumGymnandrosoma punctidiscanum
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tortricoidea Family: TortricidaeSubfamily: OlethreutinaeTribe: GrapholitiniP3 Number: 51a1390.5 MONA Number: 3495.00
Comments: Gymnandrosoma is a small genus with fewer than 10 species, two of which occur in the US and the remainder in the Neotropics.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Dyer (1904)                                                                                  
Adult Markings: The following is based mostly of the descriptions by Dyer (1904) and Forbes (1923). The head, antennae, and palps are finely mottled with varying amounts of gray, ocherous, and blackish scales. The palps are rather long and obliquely ascending, and have a short third segment. The thorax has a conspicuous pair of truncate tufts on the posterior margin, and the forewing is irregularly mottled and strigose with varying amounts of fuscous, blackish, and gray scales. Blackish or otherwise relatively dark scales tend to predominate on the basal two-thirds (sometimes over the entire wing), while the apical third is usually lighter colored. The boundary between the two is often outwardly angulated and there is a small, white discal dot near the apex of the angle. The fringe is dark grayish to blackish, and the hindwing is brown to blackish brown with a slightly paler fringe and inconspicuous darker basal line. This species is readily identified by a combination of the slightly upturned palps, the prominent thoracic tufts, and the white discal spot. Cryptaspasma bipenicilla is similar, but lacks the thoracic tufts and is restricted to coastal habitats.
Wingspan: 18-19 mm for males; 21-25 mm for females (Dyer, 1904)
Forewing Length: 8.0-12.0 mm (Gilligan et al., 2008)
Adult Structural Features: The dorsal surface of the abdomen of males has a naked patch that is flanked by two pale hair-pencils. Gilligan et al. (2008) and Gilligan and Epstein (TortAI) provide images and descriptions of the male and female genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larvae feed on Black Locust but details of the larval life history are undocumented. There appears to be two or more generations per year.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Gymnandrosoma punctidiscanum is found throughout much of the eastern US and in adjoining areas of Ontario and Quebec. In the US the range extends from Maine to southern Florida, and westward to central Texas, central Oklahoma, eastern Kansas, Missouri, Wisconsin, and eastern Minnesota. This species occurs statewide in North Carolina wherever the host plants are present.
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 have been observed year-round in Florida and mostly from April through September elsewhere, with a seasonal peak from June through August. As of 2022, we have records from mid-March to early September.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Local populations are generally found in woodlands, woodland borders, roadways, and fencerows with Black Locust.
Larval Host Plants: The larvae feed on Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) and perhaps other Robinia species (Prentice, 1966; Heppner, 2007; Robinson et al., 2010; Lam et al., 2011; Gilligan and Epstein, 2014). They may also very rarely use Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra; Heppner, 2007). - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Locust Groves and Thickets
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S4S5
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This species is widespread and can be locally abundant. It shows no evidence of any widespread population declines within the state.

 Photo Gallery for Gymnandrosoma punctidiscanum - Dotted Ecdytolopha Moth

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

Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-31
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Lenny Lampel on 2024-08-29
Union Co.
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Recorded by: Lenny Lampel on 2024-08-29
Union Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-19
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-05
Transylvania Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-07-31
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2024-07-31
Transylvania Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-15
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-07-11
Watauga Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-10
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-06
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23
Yancey Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23
Yancey Co.
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Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-06-16
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-16
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-06-11
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-27
Brunswick Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-27
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-24
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-05-23
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2024-04-17
New Hanover Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2024-04-16
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-04-12
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-29
Swain Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-07-02
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-25
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-06-20
Carteret Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-06-18
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2023-06-17
Mecklenburg Co.
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