Moths of North Carolina
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10 NC Records

Suleima helianthana (Riley, 1881) - Sunflower Bud Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tortricoidea Family: TortricidaeSubfamily: OlethreutinaeTribe: EucosminiP3 Number: 621110.00 MONA Number: 3212.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Gilligan et al. (2008)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The palps, head, thorax, and ground of the forewing are concolorous and vary from light tan to gray brown. The ground of the forewing often has faint striations that can produce a faintly grizzled pattern, and the entire costa is marked with dark dashes associated with the strigulae (Gilligan et al., 2008). A blackish sub-basal band is present at around one-fourth that begins at the dorsal margin and curves posteriorly before ending near the midwing. A second dark mark is present along the dorsal margin at around two-thirds that is shorter and more oval-shaped. Both are often margined to varying degrees with a thin line of lighter scales. A dull whitish or tan patch follows the posterior mark and fills the dorsal half of the wing to the outer margin. A conspicuous white mark is also usually present at the ocellus near the apex. The hindwing is light grayish-brown with a thin, dark, marginal line at the base of the cilia. The forewing pattern is similar to that of Phaneta tomonana but the latter lacks the whitish mark at the ocellus and light dorsal patch near the outer margin.
Forewing Length: 6.5-9.0 mm (Gilligan et al., 2008)
Adult Structural Features: Gilligan et al. (2008) have illustrations of the male and female genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larvae feed on sunflower tissues and can significantly impact seed production of both native and commercially grown species by causing shoot dieback or deformation of developing inflorescences. Population in the northern part of the range (Nebraska; North Dakota; Kansas) have two broods (Pilson, 2000; Knodel and Charlet, 2007). The adults emerge in May and June from overwintering pupae that are often found in infested stalks. The females lay eggs in leaf axils or on developing flower buds. The larvae in the first generation bore primarily into stems at the leaf petiole and produce piles of dark sticky frass at the tunnel openings. They pupate within the stems, with the adults appearing in July and August. The second-generation larvae primarily bore into the backs of developing inflorescences and feed on the pithy tissue and developing achenes. Pilson (2000) noted that ovules directly above a Suleima burrow did not mature and the infested heads had a characteristic "bald spot" where floret material was no longer attached to the disc. In her study seed production was often cut in half relative to uninfected plants. The mature larvae vary from cream-colored to light amber and have a dark brown head and thoracic shield.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: The range encompasses a large portion of the U.S. from Connecticut to Florida and westward to California and Idaho. Populations have likely expanded their range in association with the commercial growing of sunflowers and have been recently documented in Canada (e.g., Manitoba; Ontario). As of 2022 we have only four site records from the eastern Piedmont and Coastal Plain.
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: The adults have been observed during most months of the year at southern localities, but are generally most common from May-August elsewhere. As of 2022, our records extend from mid-April through early August.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Local populations are typically found in partially shaded or sunny settings that support native sunflowers. This species can also reach high densities in commercial plantings of sunflowers.
Larval Host Plants: Native sunflowers (Helianthus spp.) are the primary hosts, with Common Sunflower (H. annuus) being widely used. Robinson et al. (2010) also listed a record for Coreopsis as a host. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights. We need information on host use in North Carolina and we encourage naturalists to inspect sunflower stems and flower heads for boring damage and larvae.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S3-S4]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This species was only recently discovered in North Carolina and we do not have sufficient information on its distribution and abundance to accurately assess its conservation status.

 Photo Gallery for Suleima helianthana - Sunflower Bud Moth

Photos: 18

Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-25
Greene Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-20
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-20
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-04
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-04
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-04
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-05-21
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-05-21
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-05-19
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-05-19
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-08-04
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-07-26
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-07-26
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-06-14
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-06-14
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-06-14
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2018-07-25
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2016-04-21
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: