Moths of North Carolina
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8 NC Records

Ancylis semiovana (Zeller, 1875) - Half-oval Ancylis

Ancylis semiovanaAncylis semiovana
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tortricoidea Family: TortricidaeSubfamily: OlethreutinaeTribe: EnarmoniiniP3 Number: 51a0649 MONA Number: 3361.00
Comments: The genus Ancylis contains around 130 described species that occur worldwide. The exact number of species in North America is uncertain due to several unresolved species complexes, but is around 35 species.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1923); Gilligan et al. (2008)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following is based in part on the description by Forbes (1923). The ground color of the forewing is white and overlain with a large blackish-brown dorsal patch on the inner margin. The patch has a smooth margin and widens distally, then narrows and terminates at about the middle of the wing to produce a pearl shape when a resting individual is viewed from above. It may extend nearly two-thirds of the way out from the inner margin at its maximum width, is evenly rounded, and is cleanly delineated outwardly by a narrow band of white ground color. Beyond the white band there is an extensive zone of blackish-brown scales. These cover much of the dorsal two-thirds of the apical third of the wing, including the termen, and connect with a posteriorly oblique dark band that extends from the middle of the costa. Immediately behind the median costal band there is white ground that forms a large trapezoidal shaped patch (often with a thin dark line in the middle), and beyond this a series of short dark costal streaks that terminate at a large triangular-shaped apical spot. The fringe is dull white with brownish dusting, and the hindwing is light to medium brown with a concolorous fringe. Specimens sometimes have the narrow band of white ground color that follows the dorsal patch heavily dusted with blackish-brown.
Wingspan: 13 mm (Forbes, 1923)
Forewing Length: 6.5-8.0 mm (Gilligan et al., 2008)
Adult Structural Features: Gilligan et al. (2008) have illustrations of the male and female genitalia and note that the male genitalia are very similar to members of the A. spireaeifoliana species group.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larvae are leaf-folders that feed on Ceanothus spp. The mature larva are drab greenish yellow with an amber head capsule and greenish yellow prothoracic shield that has a black spot on each of the posterior corners. The anal plate is greenish yellow with a narrow black streak.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Ancylis semiovana is mostly restricted to the eastern US, with the range extending from Maine southward to northern Florida, and westward to Alabama, Kentucky, Illinois, Iowa, and southern Minnesota. Pohl et al. (2018) list Canadian records for Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia. As of 2022, we have several scattered records from the Blue Ridge and Piedmont.
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: The adult have been observed from April through December in different areas of the range, with a seasonal peak in May through July. As of 2022, our records are from early May to early July.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Local populations are found where New Jersey Tea is present. This species prefers partially sunny microhabitats such as woodland borders, roadbanks, and upland hardwood or mixed pine-forests with light gaps.
Larval Host Plants: The larvae appear to be specialists on eastern species of Ceanothus (McDunnough, 1933a; MacKay, 1959; Miller, 1987a; Heppner, 2007; Brown et al., 2008). The known hosts include New Jersey Tea (C. americanus) and Redroot (C. herbaceus). - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights. We need more information on the larval life history of this species in North Carolina.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Ceanothus Thickets
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S1S3
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: Populations appear to be uncommon in North Carolina and on the decline due to losses of the host plant from deer grazing.

 Photo Gallery for Ancylis semiovana - Half-oval Ancylis

Photos: 2

Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2014-05-20
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2014-05-20
Madison Co.
Comment: