Moths of North Carolina

Scientific Name:	Common Name:		Family (Alpha): Choose a Family

Home

View PDF	Gelechiidae Members:	Aristotelia Members:	10 NC Records

Aristotelia ivae Busck, 1900 - No Common Name

view caption

Taxonomy

Family:
Gelechiidae

P3 Number:
59a0657

MONA Number:
1743.00

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

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

Technical Description, Adults: Busck (1900)

Adult Markings: The following description is based in part on the original description by Busck (1900). The recurved labial palps are very long and acute, with the pale apical segment clearly longer than the second, and with two black bars. The second segment is thickened with appressed pale scales, and has three black or dark-brown bars on the outside. The face, head, and thorax are light brownish-gray with a dark, central, longitudinal line on the head, and three lines on the thorax. The antenna is finely serrated and dark fuscous with white annulations, while the tegula is dark-brown.

The forewing patterning is complex, with the most conspicuous marks being two dark brown fasciae that are separated by contrasting whitish zones with dark dusting. The first is a band that begins on the costal near the base and slants posteriorly before narrowing and terminating at about two-thirds the wing depth. The second is a broad band that begin on the costa just before one-half and terminates at about the same point as the first. It tends to be about the same width throughout its length and has a posteriorly directed hook at the end. Both of the bands often consists of black and caramel-brown regions, and are narrowly margined with pale whitish scales. The second fascia is followed by an indistinct, light-brown, triangular mark at around three-fourths the wing length. Immediately behind this mark there is a pair of whitish costal and dorsal marks that are separated by a short black dash. The interfascial whitish zones with dark dusting continue to the yellowish-tan inner margin where they merge. The fringe has a light tan region at the tornus that adjoins a large, dark-gray patch. From there, a narrower outer zone of dark-gray extends to the apex. A white patch is present below this that has a short, dark-gray to blackish, transverse dash. The hindwing is brown, and the legs are banded with blackish-gray and white.

Aristotelia ivae is generally similar to A. fungivorella and A. lespedezae, and is most easily distinguished by the dark lines on the head and thorax that are missing on the other species. It also lacks any pinkish or red coloration on the forewing, and has a distinctive pattern on the fringe.

Wingspan: 11.2 to 11.8 mm (Busck, 1900).

Genitalia and other structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].

Immatures and Development: The larvae feed on the leaves of the host plant where they may fold individual leaves, or tie two or more together in a loose webbing. Busck (1900) reported that six individuals were reared on the leaves of Bigleaf Marsh-elder (Iva frutescens) in Florida where they fed within a slight web. The fully grown larvae were about 12 mm long and very active. The head was yellow with black eye-spots, while the body was dark purple with eight wavy, white, interrupted longitudinal lines. Earlier instars are similar, but have green bodies (BugGuide). Several observations and studies (e.g., Diatloff and Palmer, 1988; BugGuide) suggest that this species specializes on Groundsel-tree (Baccharis halimifolia), and that the report of it using Bigleaf Marsh-elder likely reflects a misidentification of Baccharis halimifolia as Iva frutescens. The larvae pupate within a folded leaf on the host plant.

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Aristotelia ivae is mostly restricted to the southeastern Coastal Plain, with the range extending from central and eastern Texas eastward along the Gulf Coast to all of Florida, and northward along coastal regions to New York and Rhode Island. There also is one isolated record for southern Nova Scotia. The host plant (Baccharis halimifolia) was originally thought to be restricted to coastal habitats, but has expanded its range inward in recent decades due to the widespread creation of disturbed habitats by human activities. It is likely that the range of Aristotelia ivae will also expand in the future in association with the expansion of the range of its host plant. As of 2025, we have two site records from the eastern Piedmont that may reflect range expansions, with the remainder from the lower 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
Immature 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: The adults have been found in most months of the year in different areas of the range. Populations outside of Florida and Texas mostly fly from June through September. As of 2025, our records are from June and early-August.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Local populations are found in the vicinity of Groundsel-tree. This species is commonly associated with brackish coastal wetlands, but has colonized numerous types of disturbed habitats farther inland.

Larval Host Plants: Reported hosts include Groundsel-tree (Baccharis halimifolia), Jara Dulce (B. neglecta; Boldt and Robbins, 1987) and possibly Bigleaf Marsh-elder (Iva frutescens; Busck, 1900), although the latter is very likely incorrect and the result of a misidentification (Shropshire and Tallamy, 2025).

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and the larvae can be found in leaf folds and leaf ties on Groundsel-tree.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S3]

State Protection:

Comments: This species appears to be expanding its range inland as Baccharis halimifolia invades westward and will likely be more secure in the future than it is today.

Photo Gallery for Aristotelia ivae - No common name

Photos: 17

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-19 Brunswick Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-19 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-09 Brunswick Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-09 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2025-06-13 Wake Co. Comment: A larva in tied leaves of Baccharis halimifolia--not reared.	Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2025-06-13 Wake Co. Comment:
iNaturalist	Recorded by: rkostecke - Rich Kostecke on 2024-08-09 Dare Co. Comment: iNat record - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/235472280***(c) Rich Kostecke, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)\| Public Positional Accuracy=21 m Elevation=2.5 feet	Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2024-07-19 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2024-07-19 Wake Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2024-07-19 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2024-06-15 Wake Co. Comment: adult reared from larva in tied leaves of Baccharis halimifolia, adult emerged 7/4/2024	Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2024-06-15 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2024-06-15 Wake Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Erich Hofmann on 2020-06-26 Craven Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Erich Hofmann on 2020-06-26 Craven Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2019-06-15 Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 0000-00-00 Carteret Co. Comment: