Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Gelechiidae Members:	Anacampsis Members:	28 NC Records

Anacampsis agrimoniella (Clemens, 1860) - Agrimony Anacampsis

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Gelechioidea

Family:
Gelechiidae

Subfamily:
Anacampsinae

P3 Number:
59a0471

MONA Number:
2230.00

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

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

Technical Description, Adults: Covell (1984)

Adult Markings: This is an easily recognized species that has a grayish to blackish-gray forewing with a single, complete, white post-median band. The head and thorax are medium gray, and the palps dull orangish. The forewing tends to have similar medium gray coloration on the basal half that phases into blackish-gray just before and beyond the postmedian band. The palps are recurved and needle-like, and the eyes are red. Anacampsis tristrigella is similar, but has three short, white, longitudinal stripes on the outer margin.

Wingspan: 1.2 - 1.4 cm

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

Immatures and Development: The larvae roll the leaves of Agrimonia species. Leaf rolls that we have observed in North Carolina were constructed by binding several leaflets together to form a tight ball, or less commonly by rolling a single large leaflet. The shelters are often made near the end of a leaf, but also lower down along the rachis of the leaf. The larvae feed inside the shelter and deposit their dark brown frass in a ball that is used as a pupation site. The larvae are pink when young, but later develop dull green to yellowish-white bodies with black tubercles. Both the head and cervical shield are pale brown (Forbes, 1923).

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

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Anacampsis agrimoniella occurs throughout much of the eastern US and in fringing areas of southern Canada (Ontario; Quebec; Prince Edward Island). A few scattered records are also known farther west in Manitoba and Alberta. In the US, the range extends from the New England states southward to northern Georgia, and westward to Louisiana, eastern Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa and Minnesota. This species is absent from or rare in most parts of the southeastern Coastal Plain. As of 2024, we have records from all three physiographic regions, with the great majority from the Blue Ridge and Piedmont.

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 observed from April through October in different areas of the range, with a seasonal peak in July and August. As of 2024, our records extend from mid-May through late-August.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Local populations are generally associated with mesic to wet deciduous forests with rich soils, particularly where there are forest openings or edge habitat. They can be found in bottomland forests along wetlands, in mesic woods, and in moist meadows and edge habitats.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on species of agrimony (Agrimonia spp.; Robinson et al., 2010). The reported hosts include Medicinal Agrimony (A. eupatoria), an exotic species and Tall Hairy Agrimony (A. gryposepala), a native species. As of 2024, we have several records for Swamp Agrimony (A. parviflora), which appears to be the primary host in North Carolina. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and commonly rest during the day on the upper surfaces of low vegetation. The larvae can be found on the rolled leaves of Swamp Agrimony.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S3S4]

State Protection:

Comments: This species can be locally common where the hosts are present.

Photo Gallery for Anacampsis agrimoniella - Agrimony Anacampsis

Photos: 29

	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Marilyn Westphal and Becky Elkin on 2025-08-18 Henderson Co. Comment: Occupied leaf ties were on Agrimonia parviflora.		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Marilyn Westphal and Becky Elkin on 2025-08-18 Henderson Co. Comment: Occupied leaf ties were on Agrimonia parviflora.
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Marilyn Westphal and Becky Elkin on 2025-08-18 Henderson Co. Comment: Occupied leaf ties were on Agrimonia parviflora.		Recorded by: Mark Basinger, Jim Petranka, and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-26 Mitchell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-01 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-01 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-09-30 Orange Co. Comment: Specimen was reared from a larva found 9/10 on Agrimonia parviflora.		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-09-30 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-09-22 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-09-22 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-09-22 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2024-09-20 Madison Co. Comment: Occupied mine was on Agrimonia parviflora.
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2024-09-20 Madison Co. Comment: A larva from a leaflet ball on Agrimonia parviflora.		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-09-10 Orange Co. Comment: A late-stage larva on Agrimonia parviflora.
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-09-10 Orange Co. Comment: A leaf roll on Agrimonia parviflora.		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-09-10 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-17 Madison Co. Comment: Reared adult was from a leaf roll on Agrimonia parviflora; leaf roll with pupa on August 14; adult emerged on August 17.		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-17 Madison Co. Comment: Reared adult was from a leaf roll on Agrimonia parviflora; leaf roll with pupa on August 14; adult emerged on August 17.
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-14 Madison Co. Comment: One of four leaf rolls on Agrimonia parviflora, each with a single pupa; adult emerged on August 17.		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-14 Madison Co. Comment: One of four leaf rolls on Agrimonia parviflora, each with a single pupa; one adult emerged on August 17.
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-13 Madison Co. Comment: One of two unoccupied leaf rolls that were on Agrimonia parviflora; a dark ball of frass was in each; presumed to be this species since only two North American moth species are known to use Agrimonia (see BugGuide).		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-13 Madison Co. Comment: Rolled leaflets were on Agrimonia parviflora; a frass ball was in each, with a pupa in the middle of each frass ball.
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-13 Madison Co. Comment: Rolled leaflets were on Agrimonia parviflora; a frass ball was in each, with a pupa in the middle of each frass ball.		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-13 Madison Co. Comment: Rolled leaflets were on Agrimonia parviflora; a frass ball was in each, with a pupa in the middle of each frass ball.
	Recorded by: Elane Nunley on 2022-08-26 Yancey Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Elane Nunley on 2020-06-30 Yancey Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-07-06 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-06-13 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf on 2016-07-21 Stokes Co. Comment: