Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFPyralidae Members: Pococera Members: 2 NC Records

Pococera aplastella (Hulst, 1888) - Aspen Webworm Moth

No image for this species.
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Pyraloidea		 Family:
Pyralidae		Subfamily:
Epipaschiinae		P3 Number:
80a0650		 MONA Number:
5605.00
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                                                                                 
Immatures and Development: The larvae are colonial web makers that feed on deciduous hardwoods (Allyson, 1977).
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Pococera aplastellaAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New%20Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Larval Host Plants: The larvae are colonial web makers that feed on deciduous hardwoods (Prentice, 1966; Allyson, 1977; Robinson et al., 2010). The reported hosts include Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis), Paper Birch (B. papyrifera), Gray Birch (B. populifolia), Beaked Hazelnut (Corylus cornuta), Balsam Poplar (Populus balsamifera), Bigtooth Aspen (P. grandidentata), Quaking Aspen (P. tremuloides), Black Cottonwood (P. trichocarpa), Choke Cherry (Prunus virginiana), willows (Salix), and alders (Alnus). - View
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
State Protection:
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 Photo Gallery for Pococera aplastella - Aspen Webworm Moth

Photos: 2
Pococera aplastellaRecorded by: Darryl Willis on 2017-04-21
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: 		Pococera aplastellaRecorded by: Darryl Willis on 2015-06-13
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: