Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFTortricidae Members: Episimus Members: 69 NC Records

Episimus argutana (Clemens, 1860) - Sumac Leaftier Moth

Episimus argutana
view caption 		Episimus argutanaEpisimus argutanaEpisimus argutana
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Tortricoidea		 Family:
Tortricidae		Subfamily:
Olethreutinae		Tribe:
Olethreutini		P3 Number:
51a0485		 MONA Number:
2701.00
Comments: As currently recognized, Episimus argutana exhibits substantial geographic variation in molecular markers and likely reflects a species complex.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larvae are solitary leaf rollers and folders that feed on a variety of broadleaf plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Episimus argutanaAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New%20Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Immature Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: immatures.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Larval Host Plants: The larvae are polyphagous, with sumacs and Witch-hazel being two of the most commonly used host groups (Forbes, 1923; Heinrich, 1926; Craighead et al., 1950; Schaffner, 1959; Prentice, 1966; Baker, 1972; Godfrey et al., 1987; Robinson et al., 2010, Beadle and Leckie, 2018). The reported hosts include alders (Alnus), Giant Ragweed (Ambrosia trifida), hawthorns (Crataegus), Wild Poinsettia (Euphorbia cyathophora), Mexican Fireplant (E. heterophylla), American Witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), Blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica), Winged Sumac (Rhus copallinum), Smooth Sumac (R. glabra), Staghorn Sumac (R. typhina), elderberries (Sambucus), goldenrods (Solidago), Atlantic Poison-oak (Toxicodendron pubescens), Poison-ivy (T. radicans), elms (Ulmus), and grapes (Vitis). In North Carolina, larvae have been found in leaf-folds on Witch-hazel. - View
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Episimus argutana - Sumac Leaftier Moth

 72 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Episimus argutanaRecorded by: David George, David Cheng, Patrick Coin on 2025-06-29
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Episimus argutanaRecorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-06-21
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Episimus argutanaRecorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Larry Chen, Sarah Toner, Joye Zhou on 2025-06-20
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Episimus argutanaRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-09
Cumberland Co.
Comment:
Episimus argutanaRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-05-01
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Episimus argutanaRecorded by: R. Newman on 2025-04-21
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Episimus argutanaRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-08-27
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Episimus argutanaRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-08-27
Madison Co.
Comment:
Episimus argutanaRecorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2024-08-14
Pamlico Co.
Comment: 		Episimus argutanaRecorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2024-08-14
Pamlico Co.
Comment:
Episimus argutanaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-09
Mitchell Co.
Comment: Unoccupied leaf folds were on Witch Hazel; id is tentative and adults need to be reared. 		Episimus argutanaRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06
Transylvania Co.
Comment:
Episimus argutanaRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-08
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Episimus argutanaRecorded by: Lenny Lampel on 2024-06-27
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Episimus argutanaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-26
Yancey Co.
Comment: Unoccupied leaf folds were on Witch Hazel; id is tentative and adults need to be reared. 		Episimus argutanaRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-06-19
Madison Co.
Comment:
Episimus argutanaRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-06-19
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Episimus argutanaRecorded by: John Petranka on 2024-06-19
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Episimus argutanaRecorded by: John Petranka on 2024-06-19
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Episimus argutanaRecorded by: John Petranka on 2024-06-19
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Episimus argutanaRecorded by: David George, Steve Hall, Patrick Coin, Mark Basinger on 2024-06-16
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Episimus argutanaRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-10
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Episimus argutanaRecorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2024-05-13
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Episimus argutanaRecorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-12
Madison Co.
Comment:
Episimus argutanaRecorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-05-03
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Episimus argutanaRecorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2024-04-29
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Episimus argutanaRecorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-09-07
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Episimus argutanaRecorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-03
Orange Co.
Comment:
Episimus argutanaRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-05-17
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Episimus argutanaRecorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-07-11
Guilford Co.
Comment: