Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Epiblema scudderiana (Clemens, 1860)
Hedya scudderiana Clemens, 1860
(1),
(2)
Euryptychia saligneana (Clemens, 1865)
Paedisca affusana (Zeller, 1875)
Eucosma scudderiana (Fernald, [1903])
Phylogenetic sequence #621082
Explanation of Names
Specific epithet in honor of Samuel Hubbard
Scudder (1837-1911) who collected the specimens.
(1)Numbers
There are more than 40 named species of Epiblema in America north of Mexico.
Identification
Rests with wings rolled around body in shape of cylinder; basal third is dark brown or black, middle third is off-white, distal third is light bluish-gray; series of short diagonal stripes along outer third of costa, more pronounced toward apex. [adapted from description by
Lynn Scott.
Range
Found throughout eastern North America.
(3),
(4),
(5),
(6),
(7),
(8),
(9)
Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Type locality: Massachusetts (S.H. Scudder).
Season
Main flight of adults is March to September.
(3)Remarks
The larvae of this species have been studied for their cold-hardiness. As the temperature drops to 5 degrees Celsius and below, larvae produce glycerol to protect themselves from freezing.
(11)
Epiblema scudderiana is winter host for 12 parasites, (6 Ichneumonids, 4 Braconids, 1 Eupelmid, and 1 Tachinid).
(12) See Also
Notocelia rosaecolana
Compare to others on the
archived photos of living moths and
pinned plates of Moth Photographers Group.
Print References
Clemens, B. 1860. Contributions to American lepidopterology no.6.
Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 12:
358.
(1)
Kelleher, M.J., Rickards, J. & K.B. Storey. 1987. Strategies of freeze avoidance in larvae of the goldenrod gall moth,
Epiblema scudderiana: Laboratory investigations of temperature cues in the regulation of cold hardiness.
Journal of Insect Physiology, 33: 581-586.
(11)
Plakidas, J.D. 1978.
Epiblema scudderiana (Clemens) (Lepidoptera: Olethreutidae), a winter host reservoir for parasitic insects in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Journal of the New York Entomological Society 86(3): 220-223.
(12)
