Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFTortricidae Members: Epinotia Members: 8 NC Records

Epinotia vertumnana (Zeller, 1875) - No Common Name

Epinotia vertumnanaEpinotia vertumnanaEpinotia vertumnanaEpinotia vertumnana
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Tortricoidea		 Family:
Tortricidae		Subfamily:
Olethreutinae		Tribe:
Eucosmini		P3 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 that is mottled with darker dusting. 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.
Genitalia and other structural photos
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.
Epinotia vertumnanaAlamance 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. 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 - None

Photos: 10
Epinotia vertumnana
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2025-01-29
Orange Co.
Comment: Id based on maculation and genitalia. 		Epinotia vertumnana
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2025-01-29
Orange Co.
Comment: Id based on maculation and genitalia.
Epinotia vertumnana
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2025-01-29
Orange Co.
Comment: Id based on maculation and genitalia. 		Epinotia vertumnana
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2025-01-29
Orange Co.
Comment: Id based on maculation and genitalia.
Epinotia vertumnana
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2025-01-29
Orange Co.
Comment: Male genitalia (Jim Petranka). 		Epinotia vertumnana
Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2023-02-16
Cabarrus Co.
Comment:
Epinotia vertumnana
Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2022-03-11
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: 		Epinotia vertumnana
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-02-24
Madison Co.
Comment:
Epinotia vertumnana
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2020-02-25
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Epinotia vertumnana
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2020-02-25
Madison Co.
Comment: