Moths of North Carolina
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27 NC Records

Dysodia oculatana Clemens, 1860 - Eyed Dysodia Moth

Dysodia oculatana
view caption 		Dysodia oculatanaDysodia oculatana
view caption 		Dysodia oculatana
view caption
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: ThyrididaeSubfamily: ThyridinaeP3 Number: 700005 MONA Number: 6078.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Clemens (1860c).Technical Description, Immature Stages: Clemens (1860c).                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This is a rather distinctive species with the most conspicuous mark being a large, silvery-white patch on the hindwing that resembles a bicuspid tooth. The head, palps and thorax have varying shades of brownish-yellow scales. The ground of the forewing is light brownish-yellow with fine dark brown lines that produces a reticulated or finely striated pattern. The ground is typically overlain with three dark brown, irregular bands. The most prominent is a wide band just beyond the middle of the wing that extends from the inner margin to the costa. It either forks or broadly widens just before reaching the costa, and is followed by a narrower band in the sub-terminal region. A third and more outwardly curved band is found in the sub-median region. Individuals vary in the degree of develop of the bands, and in some cases they may be absent or poorly developed. A small, whitish, discal spot is present that often adjoins the median band.

The hindwing has a similar light brownish-yellow ground color that is finely reticulated. Two darker bands are usually evident in the median and subterminal region. These vary in their shape and degree of development, and in some individuals may be fused into a single broad band, or be only partially formed and appear as a dark blotch that extends from the inner margin to the white tooth mark. Both wings are terminally angulated, and individuals normally rest with the forewings spread so that the prominent tooth mark on the hindwing is exposed.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larvae are leafrollers that typically feed on composites or other species with broad leaves. Clemens (1860) noted that the young larva begins by cutting the leaf from an edge, then rolling the edge inward. It continues to cut across the leaf and roll additional material as it grows. At maturity it eats through the closed end of the leaf roll and drops to the ground where it pupates in a silken cocoon. The host plants commonly have two or more dangling leaf rolls on a single plant.

The larvae are sluggish when uncovered and have a noticeably thick and contracted body (Clemens 1860). The head is broad and black, and the prothoracic plate is dull yellow and unmarked. The ground of the body varies from dull yellow to orangish yellow, and is covered with rows of oval, black tubercles that each have a single hair. The terminal end has a conspicuous black shield.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Dysodia oculatana is broadly distributed across the eastern US from Massachusetts and New York westward to Wisconsin and eastern Nebraska and southward to southern Texas eastward to northern Florida. As of 2023, our records are all from the Blue Ridge and Piedmont.
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
Immature 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 documented from April-October in the eastern US, with a peak typically from June through August. As of 2023, all of our records are from June and July. Clemens (1860c) noted that there are two broods, with the adults first appearing in June and July, then later in the Fall. The fall brood appears to overwinter (presumably as pupae in the soil), with the adults emerging after the spring warm-up. Our very limited data as of 2023 only provide weak support for two broods in North Carolina.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Local populations are associated with opens woods, forest edges, and semi-shaded roadsides.
Larval Host Plants: The larvae appear to be polyphagous, with records from both composites and legumes (Clemens, 1860; Covell, 1984; Godfrey et al., 1987; Heppner, 2007; Robinson et al., 2012). The reported hosts include White Snakeroot (Ageratina altissima), Eutrochium spp., American Bugleweed (Lycopus americanus), wild beans (Phaseolus), White-flowered Leafcup (Polymnia canadensis) and Wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia). In North Carolina, we have records for Hollow Joe-pye-weed (Eutrochium fistulosum), Sweet Joe-pye-weed (E. purpureum), Hairy Leafcup (Smallanthus uvedalia), Wingstem, and Yellow Crownbeard (Verbesina occidentalis). - View
Observation Methods: The adults are active during the day and are often seen nectaring on milkweeds and other wildflowers. The larvae produce conspicuous dangling leaf rolls on Smallanthus, Verbesina and other species with broad leaves.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
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 Photo Gallery for Dysodia oculatana - Eyed Dysodia Moth

Photos: 28

Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-18
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-01
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Mary Kay Cassano on 2024-06-18
Rutherford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mary Kay Cassano on 2024-06-18
Rutherford Co.
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Recorded by: Mary Kay Cassano on 2024-06-18
Rutherford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Regina Patton on 2024-06-06
Jackson Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan and Becky Elkin on 2023-09-15
Macon Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-09-05
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: David George, John Petranka on 2023-09-02
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, John Petranka on 2023-09-02
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-08-21
Madison Co.
Comment: A leaf roll with a larva that was on Eutrochium fistulosum.		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-08-21
Madison Co.
Comment: A leaf roll with a larva that was on Verbesina alternifolia.
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-08-16
Macon Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-08-16
Macon Co.
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Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2023-07-08
Yancey Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-07
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-09-22
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-09-11
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-09-11
Orange Co.
Comment: A Yellow Crownbeard with three leaf rolls. 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-09-11
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-09-05
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-07-13
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-07-04
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-07-22
Graham Co.
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Recorded by: jim Petranka on 2021-07-02
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-07-11
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-07-04
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2015-06-10
Cabarrus Co.
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