Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Pelochrista ridingsana (Robinson, 1869)
(1)
Conchylis ridingsana Robinson, 1869
Eucosma ridingsana (Robinson, 1869)
Explanation of Names
Specific epithet in honor of collector James
Ridings (1803-1880), founder of the Philadelphia Entomological Society and one of the first to collect in the Colorado Territory.
Size
Robinson (1869) listed a wingspan of 23 mm.
Powell & Opler (2009) listed the forewing length 7.5-13 mm.
(2)Identification
Robinson (1869) original description as Conchylis ridingsana is online and linked in the print references.
Range
Found throughout most of the western two-thirds of North America.
(3)
Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Types: Colorado Territory (James Ridings).
Season
The main flight period is July to October.
(4)Food
Larva bore into broom snakeweed,
Gutierrezia sarothrae (Pursh) Britton & Rusby.
(5)See Also
Pelochrista fernaldana which is similar but has reddish ground color
Pelochrista griselda is also a western species and can be difficult to separate based upon maculation according to MONA Fascicle 9-5, however
griselda generally flies earlier from March to June
(4)
Pelochrista argentifurcatana can be difficult to separate based upon maculation, however it is generally found east of the Mississippi River.
(4)
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Compare to others on the pinned plates of
Moth Photographers GroupPrint References
Gilligan, Wright & Gibson, 2008.
Olethreutine Moths of the Midwestern United States. Ohio Biological Survey: 103.135.
(6)
Powell, J.A. & P.A. Opler, 2009.
Moths of Western North America. University of California Press, pl. 15, fig. 23-24; p. 134.
(2)
Robinson, C.T., 1869. Notes on American Tortricidae.
Transactions of the American Entomology Society 2:
285.
