Moths of North Carolina
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15 NC Records

Sitochroa palealis (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) - Greenish-Yellow Sitochroa Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: PyraustinaeTribe: PyraustiniP3 Number: 801463.00 MONA Number: 4986.10
Species Status: This is an introduced species from the Old World that was first found in 2002 (Passoa et al., 2008). It has since spread throughout the eastern U.S. and southern Canada, primarily at the more northern latitudes.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Munroe (1976)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Passoa et al. (2008); Ogden (2017)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Sitochroa palealis is a fairly distinctive pyraustine moth that has a pale yellow forewing with a faint greenish tint, along with a diffuse dusky median spot. Fresh specimens often have dark dusting along the veins on the apical half of the wing. The hindwing is white and unmarked, while the head and thorax are concolorous with the forewing.
Wingspan: 26-34 mm (Passoa et al. 2008).
Adult Structural Features: Passoa et al. (2008) have descriptions and illustrations of the male and female genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: In North America, the larvae primarily feed in the flower heads of Queen-Anne's-Lace, and perhaps other members of the carrot family. Odgen (2017) studied populations in Canada where there is a single generation each year. The larvae feed on the flowers and seed heads within rather bulky, frass covered, silken pouches where they shelter and feed. The mature larvae overwinter as prepupae within the seed head, then pupate in a tough silken cocoon in the soil the following spring. Adult eclosion occurs later in the same summer.

The later instars are light grayish-brown with conspicuous dark pinacula along the body. The ones above the spiracles are solid black, while those below are black with a light center that produces a ring-like shape. The head and prothoracic shield are light-colored with small circular markings (Passoa et al. 2008; Odgen, 2017).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Sitochroa palealis occurs from eastern Russia westward to Great Britain and Portugal, and southward to Greece, Italy and North Africa. In also occurs in Korea, Japan, and China. It was first reported in 2008 in North America (Passoa et al., 2008). The current range extends across much of southern Canada from Newfoundland westward to Ontario, and in the U.S. from Maine southwestward to eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina, and westward to Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Minnesota. As of 2023, all of our records are from the Blue Ridge and western Piedmont, with the earliest record from 2016.
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 in North America mostly fly from May through October, with peak activity in July and August. Local populations in North Carolina are univoltine; as of 2023, our records range from early July through early August.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Local populations are typically found in meadows, fields, roadsides, and other open habitats that support Queen-Anne's-Lace.
Larval Host Plants: The larvae specialize on members of the carrot family (Apiaceae), with Queen-Anne's-Lace (Daucus carota) being the primary host in North America. Other host genera that are used in Europe and elsewhere include Foeniculum, Heracleum, Laserpitium, Peucedanum, Seseli and Silaum; Passoa et al., 2008; Ogden, 2017). - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and the larvae are often found in the heads of Queen-Anne's-Lace during the summer and early fall months.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status: NA
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: [GNA] [SNA]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This is an introduced species that does not merit any priority for conservation.

 Photo Gallery for Sitochroa palealis - Greenish-Yellow Sitochroa Moth

Photos: 3

Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin and Bo Sullivan on 2023-08-08
Wilkes Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2018-08-08
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan on 2018-07-19
Ashe Co.
Comment: