Moths of North Carolina
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31 NC Records

Olethreutes ferriferana (Walker, 1863) - Hydrangea Leaftier Moth

Olethreutes ferriferana
view caption 		Olethreutes ferriferanaOlethreutes ferriferana
view caption 		Olethreutes ferriferana
view caption
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Tortricoidea		 Family:
Tortricidae		Subfamily:
Olethreutinae		Tribe:
Olethreutini		P3 Number:
51a0595		 MONA Number:
2827.00
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: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This species is a very distinctive Olethreutes, with bold reddish-brown forewing markings that are unique for this species. The head and thorax vary from reddish-brown to brown, and the palps are whitish with two dark dots on the second segment. The ground color of the forewing is whitish with numerous fine, brown striations. It is overlain with a dark-brown to reddish-brown basal patch that is complete, and a large concolorous posterior patch that occupied much of the dorsal half of the apical half of the wing. The only other conspicuous mark is a brown spot at the apex.
Forewing Length: 7.0-8.5 mm (Gilligan et al., 2008).
Adult Structural Features: Gilligan et al. (2008) provide illustrations of the male and female genitalia and note that the valva lacks a digitus. The neck cavity has a short line of thin spines located medially on the lateral margin, a line of strong spines on the distal half of the medial margin, and several thin spines on the basal surface of the cavity.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larvae feed on the leaves of Hydrangea arborescens and produce distinctive leaf ties that involve tightly binding two or more developing leaves together to form a more or less symmetric shelter. They feed and pupate within the shelter. In North Carolina, early-instar to mid-instar larvae are common on H. arborescens in May, with the adults flying mostly in June and July. The early instars are a dull, translucent green with an amber-colored head and prothoracic plate, while the later instars develop a dark brown to blackish head and prothoracic plate.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Olethreutes ferriferana is endemic to eastern North America where it occurs in southern Canada in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. In the US, the range extends from Maine southwestward through the Appalachian region to eastern Tennessee, western North Carolina, and northern Alabama and as a possible disjunct in central Mississippi. The range extends westward to Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin and southern Minnesota. As of 2024, all of our records are from the Blue Ridge except for one specimen from the extreme western Coastal Plain.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Olethreutes ferriferana
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 August in different areas of the range, with a seasonal peak typically in June and July. As of 2024, our records range from late-May through late-July.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Local populations are strongly dependent on Hydrangea arborescens as a host and are generally restricted to mesic hardwood forests in the Blue Ridge, including cove forests at low elevations and stands of northern hardwoods at high elevations.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae are reported to feed on hydrangea (Forbes, 1923; Heinrich, 1926; MacKay, 1959), but no specific hosts are listed. In North Carolina larvae appear to specialize on Smooth Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), but other Hydrangea species might be used. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and the larvae can be found in the distinctive leaf ties during the late-spring and summer months.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Montane Mesic Forests
See also Habitat Account for General Cool Mesic Forests and Shrublands
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S3S4
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: Local populations are spottily distributed in the Blue Ridge due to their dependence on Hydrangea arborescens as a host plant, but generally appear to be secure.

 Photo Gallery for Olethreutes ferriferana - Hydrangea Leaftier Moth

Photos: 21

Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-31
Macon Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-04-29
Mitchell Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-07-24
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-07-09
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-18
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-06-28
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-06-15
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-05-27
Henderson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-06-02
Haywood Co.
Comment: Bound leaves were common on Hydrangea arborescens; larvae and frass were observed on two unfolded groups of leaves. 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-05-24
Madison Co.
Comment: This adult was reared from a larvae collected on Hydrangia arborescens on 2020-05-01; the adult emerged on 2020-05-24 (see companion photos of the bound leaves with larvae).
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-05-24
Madison Co.
Comment: This adult was reared from a larvae collected on Hydrangia arborescens on 2020-05-01; the adult emerged on 2020-05-24 (see companion photos of the bound leaves with larvae).		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-05-24
Madison Co.
Comment: This adult was reared from a larvae collected on Hydrangia arborescens on 2020-05-01; the adult emerged on 2020-05-24 (see companion photos of the bound leaves with larvae).
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-05-16
Buncombe Co.
Comment: Numerous Hydrangea arborescens were observed with the terminal leaves bound together with silk. A single larva was present in each. 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-05-16
Buncombe Co.
Comment: Numerous Hydrangea arborescens were observed with the terminal leaves bound together with silk. A single larva was present in each.
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-05-01
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-05-01
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-05-01
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-07-20
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-07-20
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2019-06-04
Graham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger, P. Scharf on 2015-06-18
Avery Co.
Comment: