Moths of North Carolina
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5 NC Records

Argyresthia annettella Busck, 1907 - No Common Name

Taxonomy
Family: ArgyresthiidaeP3 Number: 360143.00 MONA Number: 2437.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Busck (1907)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Braun (1912)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following description is based in part of that of Busck (1907a). The labial palp, face, and head are pure white and the antenna is annulated with golden brown. The forewing has a silvery white ground color that is overlain with pale golden to bronzy-gold marks. The two most prominent marks are 1) an L-shaped fascia that extends from the dorsal margin at about one-third the wing length to the costa, then runs along the costa to the wing base, and 2) a broad golden fascia just beyond the middle of the wing that runs from the dorsal margin and forks just before reaching the costa. Additional marks include a curved irregular golden fascia on the apical third that extends from the costa towards the tornus. It often anastomoses with smaller golden marks in between it and the termen, and may have a smaller, incomplete fascia or irregular mark that precedes it. The cilia are golden and the wing tip has a short black line that is largely restricted to the apex. The hindwing is light golden fuscous.
Wingspan: 9 mm (Busck, 1907).
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: This species feeds on Junipers and presumably uses Eastern Red Cedar as its host in North Carolina. The young larvae begin mining terminal leaves in midsummer from the base toward the tip, and typically consume four leaves during the larval period. After consuming a leaf, they pass through the stem from one leaf base to another (Braun, 1912; Eiseman, 2023). Overwintering occurs in a leaf mine, and feeding resumes during the spring warmup. The mined leaves contain scattered grains of frass, except for the last one, from which the larva exits near the tip. In Ohio populations, pupation takes place in May in an open-mesh cocoon on a twig or on the upper side of a leaf, and the adults emerge in early June. As of 2023, we have adult records from mid-May through early June, which suggests a slightly earlier emergence period in North Carolina.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Argyresthia annettella is largely restricted to eastern North America. The range is poorly documented, but specimens have been found in southern Canada (Alberta; Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland), and in the New England states southward to southwestern Ohio and North Carolina. As of 2023, all of our records are from the eastern 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: Local populations are univoltine, with the adults flying in mid-may through early June.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: This species uses junipers, which are commonly found in rather open habitats with neutral soils.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on junipers, including Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) (Robinson et al., 2010). - View
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Cedar Woodlands
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
State Protection:
Comments: This species appears to be uncommon throughout its range.

 Photo Gallery for Argyresthia annettella - No common name

Photos: 9

Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-05-29
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-05-16
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-05-16
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-05-16
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger on 2014-06-04
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger on 2014-06-04
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger on 2013-06-05
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Harry Wilson on 2013-06-03
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Harry Wilson on 2013-06-03
Wake Co.
Comment: