Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Tortricidae Members:	Rhopobota Members:	92 NC Records

Rhopobota finitimana (Heinrich, 1923) - No Common Name

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Tortricoidea

Family:
Tortricidae

Subfamily:
Olethreutinae

Tribe:
Eucosmini

P3 Number:
51a1190

MONA Number:
3278.00

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

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

Technical Description, Adults: Gilligan et al. (2008)

Adult Markings: Rhopobota finitimana is similar in maculation to R. dietziana (see the detailed description under that species), except that is has a completely brown face, head and scape, and the basal and sub-basal fasciae are typically replaced or masked by a solid dark brown basal patch. On some specimens the dark patch appears mottled, with darker blotches within and on the thorax. Rhopobota finitimana also resembles Larisa subsolana, but does not have a complete post-medial fascia and has a well-developed eyespot at the apex that is lacking in Larisa.

Forewing Length: 4.5-5.0 mm (Gilligan et al. (2008).

Adult Structural Features: Gilligan et al. (2008) provide illustrations of the male and female genitalia and note that the male cucullus is semitriangular, with an unusually long spine located on the medial surface just below the rounded apex. In addition, the lateral projections of the uncus are long, flattened, and of uniform width.

Structural photos

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

Immatures and Development: The larvae mine the leaves of several species of holly and the mine characteristics vary depending on the host plant. Eiseman (2022) noted that when feeding on American Holly the mines tend to be long and narrow versus more compact when mining deciduous hollies. The silk-bound frass is extruded from a hole in the lower epidermis and usually at the leaf midrib. On deciduous hosts the frass bundle becomes a narrow, curved tube. The mines are frequently digitate or branching due to a feeding larva pausing to dispose of frass, then returning to a different location in the mine to resume feeding. The older larvae abandon their mines and feed in leaf shelters that are constructed by either crumpling one leaf or tying two leaves together. A pupal case is sometimes made by cutting one or two small arcs in a leaf to form a flap in which the larva spins its cocoon Eiseman, 2022).

Ken Kneidel recently reared two adults from mines on American Holly. When using this species the larvae live in linear mines that begin at the midrib and develop numerous lateral branches that make them strongly digitate. Frass is expelled at an opening near the midrib. Larvae that were maintained in captivity eventually evacuated the mines and pupated within a silk covering that was constructed in folds of leaves, on paper tissue, or on a plastic bag. The adults emerged in less than two weeks after pupating when kept at room temperature. Populations that use American Holly probably also use a portion of a folded leaf to pupate, but field observations are needed to confirm this.

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Rhopobota finitimana is found in eastern North America, with the range including portions of southern Canada (Ontario eastward to Prince Edward Island) and much of the eastern US from Maine southward to northern Florida and westward to eastern Texas, eastern Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Indiana. It occurs statewide in North Carolina, from lower elevation sites in the Blue Ridge to coastal maritime forests in the east.

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
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 mostly fly from March through September in different areas of the range, with the greatest activity from April through July. Populations in the Coastal Plain of North Carolina appear to be at least bivoltine, with the larvae overwintering in the leaves. As of 2022, the adults have been observed in the Coastal Plain during most months of the year except for the hottest summer months.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Local populations are most commonly found in bottomland and mesic forests, particularly those with stands of American Holly.

Larval Host Plants: The larvae typically feed on native holly species (Forbes, 1923; Heinrich, 1923; Brown et al., 2008; Lam et al., 2011; Eiseman, 2022). The known hosts include Possumhaw Holly (Ilex decidua), Mountain Holly (I. mucronata), American Holly (I. opaca), Common Winterberry (I. verticillata), and Yaupon Holly (I. vomitoria). In North Carolina, larvae have been reared from Possumhaw Holly, American Holly, and Yaupon Holly. Prentice (1966) reported one instance of an individual using Balsam Poplar (Populus balsamifera) and Robinson et al. (2010) reported Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) as a host. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and the digitate mines are commonly seen on American Holly and other hollies.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Holly Thickets

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S3S4

State Protection:

Comments: This species occurs throughout the state and can be locally common where the host plants are present.

Photo Gallery for Rhopobota finitimana - None

106 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

	Recorded by: Lior S. Carlson, Dean Furbish on 2025-06-18 Alamance Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-03 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-03 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2025-04-04 Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, Larry Chen on 2025-04-02 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-03-27 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-03-27 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-03-11 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-03-11 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-02-04 Edgecombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-02-04 Martin Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-02-04 Washington Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Scott Salger on 2025-01-25 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-01-20 Greene Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-01-20 Pitt Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-01-20 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-01-19 Randolph Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-01-18 Cabarrus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-01-18 Davidson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-01-18 Davidson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-01-18 Montgomery Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-01-18 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-01-18 Stanly Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-01-05 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-01-05 Lee Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-01-05 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-12-01 Johnston Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-11-16 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-11-16 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Randy Newman on 2024-10-28 Carteret Co. Comment: