Moths of North Carolina
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9 NC Records

Epinotia celtisana (Riley, 1881) - No Common Name

Epinotia celtisanaEpinotia celtisana
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Tortricoidea		 Family:
Tortricidae		Subfamily:
Olethreutinae		Tribe:
Eucosmini		P3 Number:
51a1201		 MONA Number:
3291.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Brown (1986); as Epinota laracana.                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This species is highly variable in coloration and patterning across its range (Brown, 1986). North Carolina specimens typically have light gray to light grayish-brown coloration overall, with variable amounts of white or white-tipped scales that are intermixed, along with scattered, fine brownish reticulations. The general pattern is overlain with larger dark brown to blackish marks that are variably expressed. These include an outwardly oblique fascia just before the middle of the wing that extends from the inner margin to near the center of the wing, and an irregular, inwardly-curved fascia that extends from the middle of the costa to the inner margin at around four-fifths the wing length. The latter is often interrupted and may break up into one or two larger blotches on the dorsal half of the wing. The fringe is more or less concolorous with the general forewing color and has a conspicuous dark-brown to blackish basal band along its length. Specimens from outside of North Carolina often have a prominent, dark, basal streak and females are often heavily dusted with dark scales along the middle of the wing.
Forewing Length: 6.1-7.2 mm (Brown, 1986).
Adult Structural Features: Brown (1986) has detailed descriptions and illustrations of the male and female genitalia. Males have a costal fold that is 39-45% as long as the forewing length.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The type specimen was reared from a hackberry (Celtis) in Texas, but the larval life history is essentially undocumented.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: The range is rather poorly documented because of misidentified specimens and confused taxonomy. This species is thought to be broadly distributed across much of the eastern US and adjoining areas of southern Canada (Ontario; Quebec). Brown (1986) documented specimens from Ontario, Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Mississippi and Texas. As of 2024, all of our records are from the eastern and central Piedmont.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Epinotia celtisana
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: Adults in the southern areas of the range typically fly in late winter or early spring, while those in northern regions fly later (April-May). As of 2024, our records extend from mid-February through late-March.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: This species is thought to specialize on hackberries, which are found in rich, circumneutral woodlands and edge habitat.
Larval Host Plants: The host are poorly documented, but this species is thought to specialize on hackberries (Celtis) based on a single rearing record from Texas by Riley (1881). As of 2024, we are unaware of any other rearing records for this species, and more effort is needed to document host use. - View
Observation Methods: This is a late-winter flier that will come to lights on warm nights.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Rich Wet-Dry Hardwood Forests
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: This appears to be an uncommon species in North Carolina, but has likely been under collected due to its habit of flying very early in the season.

 Photo Gallery for Epinotia celtisana - None

Photos: 15

Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2025-03-19
Orange Co.
Comment: Dissected by Jim Petranka		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2025-03-19
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-03-10
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-03-10
Madison Co.
Comment: Male genitalia.
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2024-03-07
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2024-03-07
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-02-14
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-02-14
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2021-03-11
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2021-03-11
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-03-11
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-03-11
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-03-06
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-03-06
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2018-03-01
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: