[ncsc-moths] Re: ID Help, Please ( Rhyacionia )

  • From: kjchilds <kjchilds@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: ncsc-moths@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2011 06:00:32 -0800 (PST)

Although not native, Loblolly pines are very common here. They are grown 
extensively for wood pulp.

I've always wondered why the TN state seedling nursery would devote so much of 
its property to producing seeds for a nonnative species.

 Ken Childs
Henderson, TN
Chester County

http://www.finishflagfarms.com





________________________________
From: J. Merrill Lynch <jmerrilllynch@xxxxxxxxx>
To: ncsc-moths@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Mon, February 21, 2011 6:49:38 AM
Subject: [ncsc-moths] Re: ID Help, Please ( Rhyacionia )


Ken,
 
Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda) is not native to TN except for perhaps the very 
southernmost areas along the Alabama and Mississippi border.  I'm guessing your 
native pines are P. virginiana (Virginia or scrub pine) and P. echinata 
(shortleaf pine).  However, loblolly is widely planted and could be in your 
area.
 
Merrill


On Mon, Feb 21, 2011 at 7:41 AM, kjchilds <kjchilds@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Elevation here is about 500 feet and I'm assuming that must be ideal for 
loblolly pines. The state Tree Seedling Nursery is located a few miles from my 
farm. 

>
>
>Ken Childs
>Henderson, TN
>Chester County
>
>http://www.finishflagfarms.com
>
>
>
________________________________
 From: Jean Obrist <innisfreehorses@xxxxxxxxxx> 
>
>To: ncsc-moths@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Sent: Sun, February 20, 2011 9:03:35 PM 
>
>Subject: [ncsc-moths] Re: ID Help, Please ( Rhyacionia )
> 
>
>
>According to All-Leps BOL, Rhyacionia busckana has been found near Cosby, TN 
>(eastern mountains)
>Also, R. frustrana was in the same area of Cocke Co, TN and in middle AL.
>I have not seen them yet, but I am at a lower elevation with not as many pines.
> 
>Jean Obrist
>Cocke Co, TN
>----- Original Message ----- 
>>From: J. Merrill Lynch 
>>To: ncsc-moths@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
>>Sent: Sunday, February 20, 2011 9:28 PM
>>Subject: [ncsc-moths] Re: ID Help, Please ( Rhyacionia )
>>
>>
>>Paul, Harry, et al:
>> 
>>I've looked at the key for Rhyacionia in my old copy of Forbes (1923), 
>>Lepidoptera of New York and Neighboring States.  The determining mark for R. 
>>rigidana is a yellow band immediately in front of the terminal band at the 
>>distal end of the wing.  All three photos at the bottom of the MPG page for 
>>rigidana show this yellow band-- see here:  
>>
>>http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=2868
>>
>>None of the photos of either your's or Harry's moths show this yellow band.  
>>So, 
>>on that basis I think we can rule out rigidana for both your moths.  What 
>>bothers me is that your's and Harry's moths show brighter and more extensive 
>>red 
>>in the distal half of the forewing and do not match well with the photos of 
>>frustrana on MPG.  However, based on what I've read in the forestry papers, 
>>those two species are sympatric across the range of loblolly pine in the 
>>southeast (and extend northward to New York and Mass presumably feeding on 
>>other 
>>pine species there) and are the likely species to encounter in eastern NC.
>> 
>>The only way this mystery will be solved will be for you to collect one and 
>>send 
>>it off for bar-coding.  I'll be interested in hearing the results.
>> 
>>Merrill
>> 
>>On Sun, Feb 20, 2011 at 9:04 PM, Paul <pandlscharf@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>>Let me add to the confusion . Last year 3/15/10, I photographed  #1 and have 
>>it 
>>identified as R. rigidana ( Can't remember if I identified it through 
>>Bugguide 
>>or not , but the ID is not positive via speciman ) For the last two nights 
>>I've 
>>been getting several of what might be the same species # 2 . Based on 
>>Merill's 
>>research it's more likely to be  R. rigidana. However in my initial study of 
>>these two photos I'm not even sure they're the same species .  Paul
>>
>>
>>-- 
>>J. Merrill Lynch
>>Echo Valley Farm
>>Watauga County, NC
>>Elevation:  3,400 feet
>>
>


-- 
J. Merrill Lynch
Echo Valley Farm
Watauga County, NC
Elevation:  3,400 feet

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