Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Pyralidae Members:	Pococera Members:	46 NC Records

Pococera scortealis (Lederer, 1863) - Lespedeza Webworm Moth

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Pyraloidea

Family:
Pyralidae

Subfamily:
Epipaschiinae

Tribe:
[Epipaschiini]

P3 Number:
80a0641

MONA Number:
5596.00

Other Common Name:
White-aproned Pococera Moth

Comments: The genus Pococera contains a taxonomically challenging group of species with many forms that are difficult to distinguish based on external morphology, coloration, and patterning. Rearing and knowledge of the host species can be helpful in a few instances, and some species can be identified based on external characteristics. However, we find many specimens from North Carolina that are challenging to assign to species with high confidence. The genitalia of species that have been examined from North Carolina are virtually identical and offer little help in sorting out species. DNA barcoding also offers little help since many of the established names show up in multiple BINs that likely reflect large numbers of misidentified specimens. Unfortunately, no one has any idea which of these specimens are accurately identified. A comprehensive study of North American members of the genus is clearly needed that will hopefully better delineate species boundaries and resolve some of the problems that hamper the accurate identification of specimens from within the state and elsewhere. At present, our assignment of specimens to certain species is best treated as provisional.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

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

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Allyson (1977)

Structural photos

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

Immatures and Development: Very little is known about the larval life history. Allyson (1977) reported that the mature larvae are 17-21 mm long. The head is yellowish brown with dark brown reticulation, while the prothoracic shield is yellowish brown with brown maculation. The body is yellowish brown with dark brown ad-dorsal and subdorsal stripes from T2 to A9, and with light pigmentation between the two stripes. The anal shield is yellowish brown with brown dots.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution:

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

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Our few records come from both natural and semi-natural habitats. Most are from mesic forests but at least a few come from dry forests and one comes from a high elevation grassland.

Larval Host Plants: The larvae feed on species of hoary-pea (Tephrosia) and Lespedeza, including Chinese Bush-clover (L. cuneata) (Allyson, 1977; Robinson et al., 2010). In North Carolina, Tracy Feldman has reared a larva from Chinese Bush-clover. - View

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Leguminous Forb and Shrublands

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 Pococera scortealis - Lespedeza Webworm Moth

Photos: 28

	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin and Mark Basinger on 2025-08-03 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin and Mark Basinger on 2025-08-03 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin and Mark Basinger on 2025-08-03 Richmond Co. Comment: A leaf shelter composed of Tephrosia virginiana leaflets and silk.		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rob Van Epps, Kevin Metcalf on 2025-07-20 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Jim Petranka on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2025-05-09 Cumberland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-08-16 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-08-10 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka, David George on 2023-06-30 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka and Jim Petranka on 2023-05-19 Scotland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-07-19 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Richard Teper on 2022-06-16 Macon Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-05-22 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2020-07-25 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2020-07-16 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2020-07-01 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2020-06-17 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2020-05-18 Cabarrus Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2019-07-23 Cabarrus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Julie Tuttle on 2017-07-20 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Lenny Lampel on 2017-05-25 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, P. Scharf, S. Hall on 2015-07-22 Stanly Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Chris Talkington on 2015-06-12 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf on 2015-06-05 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2014-07-10 Cabarrus Co. Comment: