Other Common Names
Greenish-yellow Sitochroa Moth
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Sitochroa palealis (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
Pyralis palealis Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775
(1) Explanation of Names
Specific epithet is Latin meaning "chaff, straw-colored."
(2)Identification
Silky whitish upperwings and diffuse dusky median spot.
Range
North Dakota to New Brunswick to Virginia (and likely spreading)
Moth Photographers Group - large range map with collection dates.
Food
The larvae feed on umbellifers, particularly wild carrot, Daucus carota. Also on Peucedanum oreoselinum, P. palustre, Laserpitium, Foeniculum, Silaum, Heracleum, Pastinaca
Life Cycle
Single brooded. Adults fly at dusk and later come to light. The larva feed on the flowers and the seeds of Daucus, Pastinaca, Heracleum sphondylium or Foeniculum. It spins the flowers together and hibernates, sometimes two years, in that spinning. Pupation takes place in a tough silken cocoon in the earth.
Remarks
"Recently introduced into North America (first specimen reported from 2002) and now known from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin". * (information from -
Moth Photographers Group)
Sitochroa palealis was first reported in the United States from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin by Passoa et al. (2008)
(3).
Print References
Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775.
Ankündung eines systematischen Werkes von den Schmetterlingen der Wienergegend:
123.
(1)
Passoa, S., Balogh, G. & M.A. Solis, 2008. Sitochroa palealis: A Palearctic Pyraustine Moth (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea: Crambidae) Newly Introduced to North America.
Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 110(2): 504-515.
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