100 More Species #37:Black-edged Dichomeris moth

[urbpan]

Black-edged Dichomeris moth Dichomeris picrocarpa

Many moths in the group this one belongs to couldn't be more nondescript: small and brown. This species, when examined closely, has a broad dark margin to its wings, which is rather charming. This species also has an interesting geographic range: most of North America, plus Korea and Japan (and nearby parts of Asia). The sources are mum if the moth is native to all these or was brought from one location to another. This seems likely, as the host plants for the caterpillar are several plants in the Genus Prunus, including peaches and several ornamental cherry and plum type trees. Again, I could find no information about this species' larvae, but other Dichomeris caterpillars are leaf-folders, pulling the edge of a leaf across themselves and using silk to make a refuge there.