Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFTortricidae Members: Epinotia Members: 14 NC Records

Epinotia sotipena Brown - Black Dash Epinotia

Epinotia sotipenaEpinotia sotipenaEpinotia sotipenaEpinotia sotipena
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Tortricoidea		 Family:
Tortricidae		Subfamily:
Olethreutinae		Tribe:
Eucosmini		P3 Number:
51a1204		 MONA Number:
3291.10
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Brown (1986)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following description is based in part on that of Brown (1986). The ground color of the head, thorax and forewing is light grayish brown and is intermixed with variable amounts of white or white-tipped scales. The forewing has two prominent dark-brown marks that include a wide, median, basal streak that terminates at around two-fifths the wing length, and an outwardly curved band that extends from near the middle of the costa before ending near the center of the wing at around two-thirds the wing length. A diffuse, brown pre-apical spot is often present beyond this that may be confluent with the median fascia in some specimens. A small, brown, apical spot is sometimes also present, and a series of diffuse, dark, strigulae are present along the costa. Most specimens are suffused with grayish orange to orangish-brown scales between the median fascia and apex. The cilia has a mixture of whitish and brown scales, with a well-defined basal row of dark-brown scales.
Forewing Length: 5.8-8.2 mm (Brown, 1986).
Adult Structural Features: Brown (1986) has descriptions and illustrations of the male and female genitalia. Males have a costal fold that is around 31-35% of the length of the forewing.
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: Epinotia sotipena is found in eastern North America, including Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick, and portions of the eastern US from Pennsylvania westward to Wisconsin, and southward to North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, eastern Oklahoma and northeastern Texas. This species is absent or nearly so from the southeastern Coastal Plain. As of 2024, all of our records are from the Piedmont and lower elevations in the Blue Ridge.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Epinotia sotipenaAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Flight Comments: This is an early-season flier that has been documented from February through May in different areas of the range, with a seasonal peak in March and April. As of 2024, our records extend from early-March through early-April.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Many of our records are from mesic hardwood sites or semi-wooded residential neighborhoods with hardwoods.
Larval Host Plants: As of 2024, we are unaware of any reports of the hosts. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR[S2S3]
State Protection:
Comments: This species appears to be uncommon in the state, but more information is needed on its host plants, preferred habitats, and distribution and abundance before we can accurately assess its conservation status within the state.

 Photo Gallery for Epinotia sotipena - Black Dash Epinotia

Photos: 18
Epinotia sotipena
Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-04-04
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Epinotia sotipena
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-07
Madison Co.
Comment:
Epinotia sotipena
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-04-01
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Epinotia sotipena
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-01
Madison Co.
Comment:
Epinotia sotipena
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-01
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Epinotia sotipena
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-03-04
Orange Co.
Comment:
Epinotia sotipena
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, Stephen Dunn on 2024-03-03
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Epinotia sotipena
Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-04-06
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Epinotia sotipena
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-03-23
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Epinotia sotipena
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-03-23
Madison Co.
Comment:
Epinotia sotipena
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-03-12
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Epinotia sotipena
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-03-12
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Epinotia sotipena
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-03-29
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Epinotia sotipena
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-03-29
Madison Co.
Comment:
Epinotia sotipena
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-03-12
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Epinotia sotipena
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-03-12
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Epinotia sotipena
Recorded by: Robert Gilson on 2015-03-25
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Epinotia sotipena
Recorded by: Tony DeSantis on 2015-03-23
Durham Co.
Comment: