Moths of North Carolina
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3 NC Records

Semioscopis packardella (Clemens, 1863) - Packard's Concealer Moth

Semioscopis packardellaSemioscopis packardellaSemioscopis packardella
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Gelechioidea Family: DepressariidaeSubfamily: DepressariinaeTribe: [Depressariini]P3 Number: 59a0126 MONA Number: 912.00
Comments: Semioscopis is a small genus with 13 recognized species, six of which occur in North America.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Clarke (1941); Hodges (1974)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following is based on the description in Clarke (1941). The labial palp is sordid white and the second segment is overlaid with blackish fuscous exteriorly, except at the base and apex. The third segment has a small black spot at the base anteriorly, along with a broad, black sub-apical annulus. The head is gray and the antenna is light fuscous and narrowly annulated with gray. The thorax is gray and suffused with brown anteriorly, and with a faint carmine tint. The forewing is light shining gray and marked with numerous faint, short transverse strigulae. Beginning at the end of the cell there is a conspicuous, sinuous black bar that widens and continues to the extreme base of the costa. Between the costa and the beginning of the bar at the end of the cell, there are two longitudinal brown-edged black dashes (sometimes fused) that are followed on the costa by a small, indistinct light brown shade. The costa is marked with poorly defined, light-brown spots and dashes, and is narrowly edged with pink to slightly beyond the middle. There are a series of small black spots that extend around the termen to the inner margin. The cilia are pale gray with a light-brown suffusion outwardly. The hindwing is pale, shining gray, and darker apically, with paler cilia with narrow light brown bands. The legs are pale ochreous-white and overlaid exteriorly with blackish fuscous, except at the joints and on the hind tibia. The abdomen is sordid ochreous with a slight fuscous suffusion beneath. This species is easily recognized by the sinuous black bar that extends all the way to the base of the wing. Semioscopis merriccella is similar, but the bar terminates well before reaching the wing base.
Wingspan: 21-28 mm (Clarke, 1941)
Forewing Length: 10-13.5 mm
Adult Structural Features: Clarke (1941) provides detailed descriptions and illustrations of the male and female genitalia. The genitalia are very similar to those of S. merriccella. They differ primarily in characters of the aedeagus of males, and by the longer bursa and minute signum of S. merriccella. Hodges (1974) provides other differences that may be helpful in distinguishing between these two.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: We know very little about the life history and ecology of this species.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Semioscopis packardella is primarily found in eastern North America, but scattered populations also occur in the West, including Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. In the East, the range in Canada extends from Ontario eastward to Nova Scotia. In the US, populations occur from the northeastern states west to Wisconsin and Minnesota and southward to Iowa,Tennessee, and North Carolina. As of 2021, our only records are from two sites at lower elevations in the mountains.
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: Local populations appear to be univoltine, with most records between March and July. A seasonal peak in activity occurs from April through June. As of 2020, our two records are from April and May.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The specific habitat requirements are poorly documented.
Larval Host Plants: The hosts are unknown, but Hodges (1974) surmised that the larvae feed on Crataegus, Prunus, and Sorbus species based on the close similarity of this species to a European species that feeds on the same hosts. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR SU.
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: Semioscopis packardella is near the southern limit of its range in western North Carolina and appears to be uncommon in the western mountains. We need additional data on its distribution and abundance before we can assess its conservation status.

 Photo Gallery for Semioscopis packardella - Packard's Concealer Moth

Photos: 3

Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-04-14
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-05-16
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-05-16
Madison Co.
Comment: