Moths of North Carolina
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6 NC Records

Eucosma autumnana (McDunnough, 1942) - No Common Name

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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tortricoidea Family: TortricidaeSubfamily: OlethreutinaeTribe: EucosminiP3 Number: 51a0757 MONA Number: 2925.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: McDunnough (1942); Wright and Gilligan (2015)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following is based on McDunnough (1942) original description of specimens from Canada. The palps, head, and thorax are light smoky brown to grayish brown. The forewing ground color is light golden-yellow and is heavily suffused in the basal half to two-thirds with smoky-brown. The basal half often has several fine, creamy, horizontal, parallel lines running through it. The basal half of the costa is creamy, slightly lighter than the ground, and is faintly dotted with brown. The outer edge of the smoky-brown basal area normally terminates before reaching the ocellus. The ocellus has the dorsal portion defined by two silvery streaks that are slightly convergent and more or less joined above the anal angle to form an open V. Between these are 8-10 black dots that are arranged in a double row and partially separated by silvery dashes. A broader silvery arc defines the costal portion of the ocellus and encloses a patch of ground color that is sprinkled with smoky scales. From each end of the arc there is a straight silvery streak that runs to the costa. Between these in the subcostal area are several short, irregular silvery dashes. The forewing fringe is pale and heavily peppered with black, and the hindwing is rather deep smoky and slightly paler towards the base. The fringe is pale smoky with a darker basal line.

This species closely resembles E. verna in forewing patterning. Wright and Gilligan (2015) reported that northern specimens of E. autumnana can be separated from E. verna by their two-toned forewing color (proximal two-thirds smoky brown, distal one-third golden yellow as described above), but that southern specimens from Mississippi and perhaps elsewhere tend to be uniformly gray brown and may require examination of the genitalia. Northern specimens of E. autumnana fly in the fall, while E. verna flies in the spring. However, E. autumnana in Mississippi and perhaps elsewhere fly in the spring, which hampers using phenology to separate the two species. Our specimens are consistent with the northern forms with regards to patterning and phenology.

Wingspan: 15-18 mm (McDunnough, 1942)
Forewing Length: 6.5-9.6 mm; mean = 7.7 mm (Wright and Gilligan, 2015)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larval life history is undocumented.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Eucosma autumnana is found in eastern North America where it occurs in Canada from Ontario eastward to Nova Scotia. In the US the range extends from Maine westward to Ohio and southward mostly through the Appalachian region to North Carolina, with a possible disjunct group in Mississippi. As of 2024, our three site records are from the Blue Ridge, Sandhills and a coastal forest.
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)

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Flight Comments: Wright and Gilligan (2015) reported that the adults fly from late August to mid-October in the North, and from March through April in Mississippi. As of 2024, our records are from early September through early October, except for one mid-March record.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The habitat preferences are poorly documented.
Larval Host Plants: The hosts are undocumented but presumably are members of the Asteraceae. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S2-S3]
State Protection:
Comments: This species is near its southern range limit in North Carolina and appears to be rare in the state.