Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Argyresthiidae Members:	Argyresthia Members:	28 NC Records

Argyresthia calliphanes Meyrick, 1913 - No Common Name

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Yponomeutoidea

Family:
Argyresthiidae

P3 Number:
36a0070

MONA Number:
2444.00

Comments: As currently recognized, Argyresthia calliphanes is broadly distributed across North America and may reflect a sibling species complex, with populations in western North America differing from those in the East both in maculation and molecular markers. Much more work is need to better understand patterns of geographic variation in this group. Also, see Pohl et al. (2018) and Gorneau et al. (2023) concerning the possible confusion of this species with A. goedartella.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984)

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

Adult Markings: The following description best applies to specimens from North Carolina and the eastern US. Argyresthia calliphanes has a distinctive pattern that consists of golden-brown marks on an otherwise silvery-white body. The labial palp, face, head and thorax are pure white above, and the antenna is white with golden-brown annulations. The forewing has a silvery-white ground color that is overlain with pale-golden to bronzy-gold marks. These include 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, 2) a broad golden fascia just beyond the middle of the wing that runs from the dorsal margin and forks near the middle of the wing, and 3) a similar, forked fascia at the tornus. The two forked fasciae usually merge at the costa, while the posterior fork of the second fascia is connected to the outer margin by a broad bar. Collectively, all of the marks on the apical half of the wing produce a reticulated, zig-zagging pattern, although gaps are sometimes present where the arms of the fasciae meet. All of the marks also tend to be darker on the dorsal half of the wing, then phase into a lighter golden-bronze below. The cilia are golden-brown, while the hindwing and fringe vary from golden-brown to brown. The outer legs are white with dark dusting at the joints.

Argyresthia calliphanes is most easily confused with S. annettella, but the later has a single, median, forked fascia and an area of confused blotching between it and the outer margin.

Wingspan: 13-14 mm (Meyrick, 1912-1916; p. 135).

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

Immatures and Development: As of 2025, the larval life history is undocumented.

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: As currently conceived, Argyresthia calliphanes is broadly distributed across North America, and mostly in areas with cool climates. The range in the West extends from central California northward to British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. In the East it occurs across much of southern Canada (Ontario eastward to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island), and in cooler regions of the US. The range in the eastern US extends from Maine and other New England states westward across New York and the Great Lakes region to Wisconsin and Minnesota. It extends southward through Maryland, Ohio, West Virginia, and Virginia to as far south as North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. As of 2025, all but one of our records (Orange County in the Piedmont) are from mesic habitats in the Blue Ridge.

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: The adults in eastern North America fly from June through September, with a strong seasonal peak in July and August. As of 2025, our records extend from early-July through mid-August, with local populations producing a single brood each year.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Our collection sites are mostly from mesic hardwood forests, and usually with edge habitats and a well-developed herbaceous ground cover.

Larval Host Plants: Forbes (1923) briefly noted that the larvae feed on alder (Alnus), but it is uncertain whether he was referring to eastern or western forms (see taxonomic comments above). Additional verification of this species feeding on alder is needed. As of 2025, we do not have any feeding records for 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 SNR [S3S4]

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

Comments: This species appears to reach its southern range limit in North Carolina, where the adults prefer rich, mesic hardwoods in the Blue Ridge.

Photo Gallery for Argyresthia calliphanes - None

Photos: 23

	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-08-20 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2023-08-08 Ashe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Rob Van Epps on 2023-08-05 Watauga Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-08-02 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-08-01 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-31 Macon Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-31 Swain Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-30 Swain Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-29 Swain Co. Comment:	iNaturalist	Recorded by: willkuhn - Will Kuhn on 2023-07-27 Haywood Co. Comment: iNat record - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/175305083***(c) Will Kuhn, some rights reserved (CC BY)\| Public Positional Accuracy= ? Elevation=4921.1 feet
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-26 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-25 Madison Co. Comment:
iNaturalist	Recorded by: liorcarlson - Lior Carlson on 2023-07-22 Orange Co. Comment: iNat record - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/174779240***(c) Lior Carlson, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)\| Public Positional Accuracy=213 m Elevation=666.7 feet		Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-08-14 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-08-14 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-08-01 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin, Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan on 2019-07-30 Yancey Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-07-26 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-07-26 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-07-25 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-07-25 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2019-07-01 Ashe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn on 2012-07-25 Ashe Co. Comment:

Photos of Argyresthia calliphanes from iNaturalist
© liorcarlson - Lior Carlson - 2023-07-22 - Orange Co. iNat record	© willkuhn - Will Kuhn - 2023-07-27 - Haywood Co. iNat record

Argyresthia calliphanes Meyrick, 1913 - No Common Name

Photo Gallery for Argyresthia calliphanes - None

Photos of Argyresthia calliphanes from iNaturalist