Moths of North Carolina
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7 NC Records

Ancylis spiraeifoliana (Clemens, 1860) - No Common Name

Ancylis spiraeifoliana
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Tortricoidea		 Family:
Tortricidae		Subfamily:
Olethreutinae		Tribe:
Enarmoniini		P3 Number:
51a0653		 MONA Number:
3365.00		 MONA Synonym:
Ancylis spireaeifoliana
Comments: Ancylis burgessiana, A. fuscociliana, A. laciniana, A. mira and A. spiraeifoliana are members of a taxonomically challenging species complex. Gilligan et al. (2008) summarized the issues with this complex and concluded that the limits of the constituent taxa are too poorly understood to permit species level determinations. The original descriptions of the members were based on specimens that were assumed to use different host plants, but that has since proven to be unreliable. The forewing of all members of the complex has a prominent basal patch along the inner margin and a well defined, brown, median fascia that connects the costa to two, black, longitudinal dashes anterior to the ocellus. Traditionally, species such as A. burgessiana and A. laciniana were separated by the color of the blackish dorsal patch, but that character is now considered to be too variable to be diagnostic. The genitalia associated with these different forms also are indistinguishable, so future progress in establishing species boundaries will probably have to rely on studies that are based on a long series of reared individuals, along with analyses of molecular data (Gilligan et al., 2008). It is possible that some of the members may ultimately be synonymized. Here, we have provisionally assigned specimens to the traditionally recognized species with the understanding that they are all members of a poorly resolved species complex.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This species has blackish basal patch on the inner margin that is often margined with whitish scales. The outer margin of the patch is somewhat irregular, with a shallow inward bow near the terminus. The lateral band that originates on the costal tends to be dirty brown, with the margins not crispy defined.
Structural photos
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Ancylis spiraeifoliana
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Larval Host Plants: This species appears to specialize on Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) (Clemens, 1861; McDunnough, 1955; MacKay, 1959; Wheeler and Hoebeke, 1985). A. spiraeifoliana was previously placed in the genus Spirea, and older reports of this species feeding on Spirea presumably refer to Ninebark. As of 2024, we do not have any feeding records for North Carolina. - View
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Ninebark Thickets
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
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 Photo Gallery for Ancylis spiraeifoliana - No common name

Photos: 1

Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-06-06
Alleghany Co.
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