Moths of North Carolina
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
 Family (Alpha):
« »
View PDFPyralidae Members:
Pococera Members:
37 NC Records

Pococera scortealis (Lederer, 1863) - Lespedeza Webworm Moth

Pococera scortealisPococera scortealisPococera scortealis
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, BOLDTechnical Description, Immature Stages: Allyson (1977)                                                                                 
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.
Pococera scortealis
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 Tephrosia and Lespedeza, including L. cuneata (Allyson, 1977; Robinson et al., 2010). - 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: 19

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: