Moths of North Carolina
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7 NC Records

Epinotia vertumnana (Zeller, 1875) - No Common Name

Epinotia vertumnanaEpinotia vertumnanaEpinotia vertumnana
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tortricoidea Family: TortricidaeSubfamily: OlethreutinaeTribe: EucosminiP3 Number: 51a1205 MONA Number: 3292.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Brown (1986)Technical Description, Immature Stages: MacKay (1959)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Epinotia vertumnana is highly variable in coloration and patterning (Brown, 1986). The forewings can vary from being uniformly dark brown to nearly uniformly light sandy colored. Other forms have been found with discontinuous, dark-brown, basal, median, and apical longitudinal streaks, or with a continuous longitudinal streak on a lighter background. Some of these forms were previously classified as different species, which has added to the taxonomic confusion. One common form in North Carolina has a mostly dark brown forewing except for a lighter, broadly-wavy line along the inner margin. When resting individuals are viewed from above, a light hour-glass figure is present on the apical two-thirds of the inner margin, along with concolorous scaling on the head, thorax and tornal region. Genitalic differences are usually sufficient to sort certain color forms of this species from closely-related species such as E. xandana, and in some instances may be required.
Forewing Length: 5.5-7.0 mm (Brown, 1986)
Adult Structural Features: Brown (1986) has illustrations and descriptions of the male and female genitalia. Males have a costal fold that is 36%-42% of the forewing length.
Immatures and Development: The larvae feed on hawthorns and were observed in Ontario feeding in a messy mass of terminal shoots that were webbed together (MacKay, 1959). Larvae from Ontario that were examined by MacKay (1959) had dirty yellowish-white bodies. The setal pinacula were moderately large and either the same color as the body or light brown, especially on the thoracic segments. The head, thoracic shield, and thoracic legs were yellowish-brown or brown, with the thoracic shield sometimes being darker posteriorly and laterally.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Epinotia vertumnana is restricted to eastern North America, with positively identified specimens based on genitalia occurring in Ontario and Quebec in Canada, and from Michigan eastward to Pennsylvania and southward to northern Mississippi and eastern Texas (Brown, 1986). MPG has the range extending from Maine westward to Wisconsin and Minnesota, and southward to Maryland, West Virginia and western Tennessee. As of 2024, we have a few scattered records from all three physiographic provinces.
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
Flight Comments: This is an early season flier. Brown (1986) reported collection dates from late-February through mid-April, with southern populations flying a month or more earlier than northern populations. As of 2024, we have records that extend from mid-February through mid-March.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Larval Host Plants: Brown (1986) examined several adults that were reared from hawthorns (Crataegus) from two sites in Ontario and verified that they were Epinotia vertumnana. A report of this species feeding on hackberry (Celtis) was likely a misidentified E. celtisana since Heinrich (1923) treated E. celtisana as being conspecific with E. vertumnana. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights. More information is needed on the life history and habitat requirements of this species.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR[S2S3]
State Protection:
Comments: This species appears to be rare in North Carolina, but this may reflect under collecting associated with the early flight season.

 Photo Gallery for Epinotia vertumnana - No common name

Photos: 5

Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2023-02-16
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2022-03-11
Cabarrus Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-02-24
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2020-02-25
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2020-02-25
Madison Co.
Comment: