Moths of North Carolina
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Olethreutes Members:
4 NC Records

Olethreutes sericoranum (Walsingham, 1879) - No Common Name

Olethreutes sericoranum
view caption 		Olethreutes sericoranumOlethreutes sericoranum
view caption 		Olethreutes sericoranum
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Tortricoidea		 Family:
Tortricidae		Subfamily:
Olethreutinae		Tribe:
Olethreutini		P3 Number:
51a0578		 MONA Number:
2810.00
Comments: Olethreutes is a large genus with over 130 recognized species worldwide. North America has around 80 recognized species, with at least 37 species occurring in North Carolina. Some species are very difficult to identify due to interspecific similarities in color and forewing pattern and only subtle differences in genitalia (Gilligan et al., 2008). In many instances, knowledge of the host plant is essential for a confident determination. All of the Nearctic species are leaf-tiers or leaf-rollers on deciduous trees and shrubs.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Olethreutes sericoranum varies substantially in coloration and has a general pattern of marks that are similar to certain other Olethreutes. The larger marks are often dark brown and variably suffused with olive gold, which produces an overall golden-brown appearance (Gilligan et al., 2008), but other color variants occur such as predominantly reddish-brown individuals. The major dark marks on the forewing include a basal patch that extends obliquely outward from the inner margin at about one-fifth the wing length before ending near the center of the wing, and a medial fascia that consists of a costal tooth, middle tooth and a dorsal patch with the apex narrowing posteriorly. The dorsal patch may or may not be joined to the middle tooth at the base, and both teeth are somewhat blunt at their tips and not exceptionally long. The region between the basal patch and the costa has a disorganized group of mottled scales that may have an overall tan or reddish-brown color.

Beyond the middle fascia there is a triangular, subtornal patch with the tip projecting inward, with the subtornal patch usually separated from the patch on the median fascia by a gap. The remaining large mark is an elongated, oblique, postmedial bar that begins below the costa at around four-fifths the wing length and projects towards the dorsal half of the outer margin. A series of three or four triangular spots are present along the apical half of the costa that curve posteriorly and narrow to a fine tip, with the one next to the costal tooth usually noticeably smaller than the others, and the second one often long enough to touch or merge with the subapical patch. These alternate with pairs of white dashes that continue as leaden lines that anastomose and project towards the apical half of the outer margin. The fringe is light-gray with varying levels of darker scales, and with a dark basal line. The hindwing is brown with a whitish fringe that has a dark basal band. Specimens are best identified by using a combination of the external morphology and the genitalia.

Wingspan: 15-18 mm (Heinrich, 1926).
Forewing Length: 7.0-8.0 mm (Gilligan et al., 2008).
Adult Structural Features: Gilligan et al. (2008) have illustrations of the male and female genitalia.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable only by close inspection of structural features or by DNA analysis.
Immatures and Development: The larvae are leaf-tiers on bayberry and presumably other host plants in interior areas where bayberry is not present. Schaffner (1959) received two shipments of larvae that were feeding on bayberry in May and June. The larvae pupated in July, with the adults also emerging in July. Aaron Hunt (BugGuide) also reared an adult from Northern Bayberry (Morella pensylvanica). The larva was collected on 4 June and pupated between 13-17 June; the adult emerged on 30 June. The early-instar was dirty-white with a black head and prothoracic shield, while the late-instar was similar but with a bright-green body.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Olethreutes sericoranum is found throughout much of the eastern US east of the Mississippi River, as well as in southern Ontario and Quebec. In the US the range extends from Maine southward to northern Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi and westward to Tennessee, Missouri, Kentucky and Ohio. As of 2024, we have only three sites records based on genitalia and barcoding, with two from the Blue Ridge and one from the Coastal Plain.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Olethreutes sericoranum
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 are active during the summer months from May through August, with a seasonal peak in June and July. As of 2024, our sparse records are from early-June to early-July.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Larval Host Plants: Heinrich (1926) reported bayberry (Morella) as a larval host. Aaron Hunt (BugGuide) successfully reared an adult from Northern Bayberry (Morella pensylvanica) and Schaffner (1959) received a large shipment of larvae that were also taken from bayberry, suggesting that this is the primary host at sites where bayberry prevails. Other hosts are likely used elsewhere since O. sericoranum is commonly found in areas outside of the range of bayberries (Gilligan et al., 2008). - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and can be reared from larvae on bayberries.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR[S2S4]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Olethreutes sericoranum - None

Photos: 6

Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-15
Scotland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-15
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-15
Scotland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-07-03
Madison Co.
Comment: Verified by dissection (J.B. Sullivan)
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-07-03
Madison Co.
Comment: Verified by dissection (J.B. Sullivan)		Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2002-06-08
Swain Co.
Comment: BOLD specimen.