Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Dichomeris bilobella (Zeller, 1873)
Gelechia bilobella Zeller, 1873
Phylogenetic sequence # 070450
Size
Wingspan about 15 mm.
Larva length to about 17 mm.
Identification
Adult - forewing dark gray to blackish with large pale brownish-yellow patch extending from base along costa, then crossing wing to inner margin in PM area; dark basal coloring along inner margin is constricted in AM area, then expands to form two rounded lobes in median area; reniform spot black, shaped like a bow-tie; PM line brownish-yellow, usually noticeable; subterminal line composed of several pale dots; hindwing pale gray with wide fringe.
Range
Eastern North America; Alberta, Saskatchewan, and California.
(1),
(2)Season
The adults are most common from May to August.
(1),
(3),
(4)
Larvae present from spring to July.
(4)Food
The larvae feed on leaves of goldenrod (
Solidago spp.) and aster.
(4),
(5)Life Cycle
Eggs are laid on hostplant in summer but do not hatch until the following spring; young larvae spin a silken web on leaves of host; older larvae pinch or fold leaves together to form a retreat; one generation per year; overwinters as an egg.
(4)
Larva; larva; larva; pupa; adult
Remarks
BOLD:AAF5469 — 159
vindex, 73
bilobella, 2
scrutaria — across Canada, Appalachian VA
BOLD:AAE0276 — 6
setosella, 1
bilobella — OK, LA, MI, MD
BOLD:ACE8793 — 7
setosella Appalachia (VA, NC, PA), ON
BOLD:AAH5370 — 4 unidentified — OK
See Also
Dichomeris setosella and
Dichomeris vindex are both very similar, however they do not exhibit the overall dark bluish gray hue of
bilobella and do not have as noticeable yellow/orange shading of the dark lines and spots.
(6) Print References
Beadle, D. & S. Leckie, 2012.
Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America. Houghton Mifflin. p. 66 (
preview).
(5)
Hodges, R.W., 1986.
The Moths of America North of Mexico: Fascicle 7.1, Revision of North American Gelechiidae family and its three subfamilies, p. 90, pl. 2, figs. 25-26
(6)
Loeffler, C.C., 1996. Caterpillar leaf folding as a defense against predation and dislodgment: Staged encounters using
Dichomeris (Gelechiidae) larvae on Goldenrods.
Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society, 50(3):
245.
(4)Internet References
presence in Ontario; list as
Trichotaphe bilobella (NHIC; Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources)
