Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFCosmopterigidae Members: Perimede Members: 7 NC Records

Perimede ricina Hodges, 1962 - No Common Name

Perimede ricinaPerimede ricinaPerimede ricina
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Gelechioidea		 Family:
Cosmopterigidae		Subfamily:
Chrysopeleiinae		Tribe:
[Chrysopeleiini]		P3 Number:
59a0337		 MONA Number:
1631.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD, iNat SearchTechnical Description, Adults: Hodges (1978)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Perimede species in eastern North America are very similar and are often best identified by using genitalia and other structural features. The following description is based on that of Hodges (1962b). The labial palps, antennae and thorax are all fuscous-brown. The forewing is also predominantly fuscous-brown, with four relatively large black spots that are preceded by a few white scales. These are found at one-third the wing length on the fold, at one-half the wing length on the middle of wing, at two-thirds the wing length on the middle of wing, and a relatively large one at the apex. Both a costal and a dorsal patch of white scales are usually present at three-fourths the wing length. The fringe is concolorous with the forewing except for the outer half along the outer margin (below the apex), which is white and best seen in spread specimens. The hindwing is fuscous-brown, with a dark-brown apex and a buff-brown fringe.

Perimede ricina is very similar and often requires dissection for a positive identification. In North Carolina specimens, P. ricina tends to be a shade lighter in overall coloration, and often has both a costal and a dorsal patch of white scales at three-fourths the wing length (versus only a costal patch for P. erransella). The former also often has a row of two or three small spots of white scales that extend from the apical black spot towards both the tornus and the costa (versus only towards the tornus in P. erransella). These features are often reduced or missing in specimens, which hampers identification based on photographs alone.
Wingspan: 10-14 mm (Hodges, 1962b).
Forewing Length: 5-6 mm (Hodges, 1978)
Adult Structural Features: Hodges (1962b, 1978) has descriptions and illustrations of the male and female genitalia. Also, see images below for North Carolina specimens.
Genitalia and other structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable only by close inspection of structural features or by DNA analysis.
Immatures and Development: As of 2025, we are unaware of any documentation of the host plants or larval life history.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Perimede ricina in found in the eastern US and in adjoining areas of southern Ontario and Quebec. In the US the range extends from Massachusetts and vicinity westward through the Great Lakes region to Illinois and Wisconsin, and southward to West Virginia, eastern Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina. Geographic isolates occur farther south in Florida and perhaps elsewhere, but need verification using genitalia. As of 2025, all of our records are from the Piedmont and Blue Ridge.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Perimede ricinaAlamance 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 Hanover 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.
Flight Comments: The adults mostly fly from April through September in different areas of the range, with a seasonal peak in June through August. As of 2025, our very limited records are from mid-April through early-July.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our records are mostly from areas with mesic or bottomland forests, as well as semi-wooded residential neighborhoods.
Larval Host Plants: The hosts are apparently unknown. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S2S3].
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Perimede ricina - None

Photos: 5
Perimede ricina
Recorded by: David George, Tracy Feldman, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Patrick Coin, Becky Watkins on 2024-06-08
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Perimede ricina
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-08
Madison Co.
Comment:
Perimede ricina
Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2023-06-28
Wilkes Co.
Comment: verified by dissection.		Perimede ricina
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-06
Durham Co.
Comment:
Perimede ricina
Recorded by: K. Kittelberger on 2012-04-17
Wake Co.
Comment: