Moths of North Carolina

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Callima argenticinctella (Clemens, 1860) - Orange-headed Callima

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Gelechioidea

Family:
Oecophoridae

Subfamily:
Oecophorinae

Tribe:
Oecophorini

P3 Number:
59a0041

MONA Number:
1046.00

MONA Synonym:
Epicallima argenticinctella

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012); Leckie and Beadle, 2018; Covell (1984)

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Technical Description, Adults: Clarke (1941); Hodges (1974)

Adult Markings: This is a colorful and easily recognizable species with pronounced labial palps and a well-defined brown saddle behind the yellowish-brown thorax. The detailed description that follows is based in part on that of Clarke (1941). The head is pale to golden-yellow and the thorax yellowish brown. The second segment of the labial palp is blackish fuscous, while the terminal segment and antenna are banded black and white. The ground color of the forewing is pale to golden-yellow with rich brown markings. At the wing base there is a large broad brown band that is margined on both sides with a silvery white stripe with narrow black margins. The band and stripes extend from the inner margin across most of the wing before terminating before reaching the costa. A second broad band extends from the inner margin near the tornus and terminates about mid-way. This band is margined on all three sides with a silvery white stripe (sometimes partially lead colored) that is narrowly edged with black scales. The band and adjoining areas of the fringe are sometimes dusted with blackish scales. An outwardly oblique postmedian silvery bar extends from the costa to about one-half the distance across the wing. The cilia are golden-yellow except for a small area before the tornus which is fuscous. The termen usually has a narrow dusting of silvery white or lead-colored scales and a broader zone of rufous and blackish scales. The hindwing and cilia are fuscous. The fore and middle legs are chiefly black and white, while the hind leg is lighter. The abdomen is fuscous.

Wingspan: 10-13 mm (Clarke, 1941)

Adult Structural Features: Clarke (1941) has detailed descriptions and illustrations of the male and female genitalia.

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: The larvae appear to be either detritivores and/or fungivores that feed beneath the decaying bark of hardwoods, but details about their life history are not available. Blackman and Stage (1918) reared an adult from limbs of a dead American Larch (Larix laricina).

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Callima argenticinctella is found in eastern North America. The range includes portions of southern Canada (Manitoba eastward to Nova Scotia), and much of the eastern US. The range in the US extends from the northeastern states southward to northern Florida and southern Alabama, and as far west as Minnesota, eastern Kansas and eastern Texas. As of 2024, our records include much of the state except for the southern and central Coastal Plain.

County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.


Flight Dates: High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft. Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft. Piedmont (Pd) Coastal Plain (CP) Click on graph to enlarge
Flight Comments: Local populations appear to be single brooded (Hodges, 1974). The adults have been recorded from April through October in different portions of the range, with a seasonal peak in June through August. As of 2024, we have records from mid-May through late-September with a peak in activity from May through July.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: The larvae feed on the decaying bark of hardwoods and are generally associated with hardwood or mixed pine-hardwood forests, as well as wooded residential neighborhoods.

Larval Host Plants: Clarke (1941) reported that the larvae feed on the dead wood and bark of hickories (Carya spp.), larches (Larix spp.), elders (Sambucus spp.), and elms (Ulmus spp.). Hodges (1974) reported them on the bark of elms (Ulmus spp.). We do not have any feeding records in North Carolina. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S4S5

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

Comments: This species is widespread across much of the state and is seemingly secure.

Photo Gallery for Callima argenticinctella - Orange-headed Callima

163 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-06 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-07-01 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, David Cheng, Patrick Coin on 2025-06-29 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-28 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2025-06-22 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Larry Chen, Sarah Toner, Joye Zhou on 2025-06-20 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-06-18 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George on 2025-06-07 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-31 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-20 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-03 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Kevin Bischof on 2024-08-07 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-31 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-07-31 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-07-30 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-02 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Stephen Dunn on 2024-06-29 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-28 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-06-25 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2024-06-24 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-06-23 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Patrick Coin on 2024-06-22 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Patrick Coin on 2024-06-22 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-06-21 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-06-19 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-06-19 Watauga Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2024-06-17 Lincoln Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-17 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-16 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-15 Rowan Co. Comment: