Hedya chionosema

Status

NATIVE

DOMESTIC SURVEY

Taxonomy

Hedya chionosema (Zeller) (Tortricidae: Olethreutinae: Olethreutini)

Common names: white-spotted Hedya moth, twin-spotted budworm

Adult Recognition

FWL: 6.5–8.5 mm

Head orange-brown; thorax silver-gray, orange-brown anteriorly, thoracic tuft present; forewing with ground color silver-gray with dark brown to black fasciae; a white semicircular costal patch present; male without forewing costal fold; hindwing dark gray or brown.

Male genitalia are characterized by a broad, triangular uncus; socii similar in shape to uncus, fused; narrow, curved valvae with small nub-like extension on dorsal margin. Female genitalia are characterized by a broad, plate-like sterigma with strong anterolateral sclerotizations and two small, tack-like signa.

Larval Morphology

The following account is summarized from MacKay (1959)MacKay (1959):
MacKay, M. R. 1959. Larvae of the North American Olethreutidae (Lepidoptera). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 10: 1-338..

Mature larva approximately 14 mm in length; width of head approximately 1.2 mm; head, prothoracic shield, body, and anal shield entirely bright green except for areas surrounding seta SD1 on prothoracic shield and lateral setae on prothorax, which are on dark brown or black pinacula; anal fork present, moderately developed; SV group on A1, 2, 7, 8, 9 typically 2:2:2:2:1.

Detailed figures of larval chaetotaxy are available in MacKay (1959)MacKay (1959):
MacKay, M. R. 1959. Larvae of the North American Olethreutidae (Lepidoptera). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 10: 1-338..

Similar Species

Hedya chionosema is unlikely to be confused with any other North American tortricid. The gray forewing with a white semicircular costal patch is unique.

Distribution

Hedya chionosema is broadly distributed in eastern North America, from New Brunswick to Manitoba, south to Florida, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. This species appears to be much less common in the southern United States.

Biology

The following account is summarized from Chapman and Lienk (1971)Chapman and Lienk (1971):
Chapman, P. J., Lienk, S. E. 1971. Tortricid fauna of apple in New York (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae); including an account of apple's occurrence in the state, especially as a naturalized plant. Spec. Publ. Geneva, NY: New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. 122 pp..

There is a single generation per year throughout most of the range of Hedya chionosema; a second generation may occur in Florida and Louisiana, but this requires confirmation. Adults are active from late June to mid August; the flight beginning slightly earlier in the south. Larvae feed in a nest of tied leaves of the host plant, where they overwinter. In New York, feeding resumes in late May to early June, after which time larvae pupate and adults eclose soon after.

Adults are commonly attracted to certain sesiid and tortricid pheromone lures. Larval rearing records are exclusively from members of Rosaceae, including apple/crabapple (Malus spp.) and hawthorn (Crataegus spp.).

Plant Associations

View full screen host table here

Links

Additional photos and a distribution map of this species in North America are available at Moth Photographers Group.