Moths of North Carolina
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Ancylis Members:
1 NC Records

Ancylis brauni (Heinrich, 1931) - No Common Name

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tortricoidea Family: TortricidaeSubfamily: OlethreutinaeTribe: EnarmoniiniP3 Number: 620660.00 MONA Number: 3372.00
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: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Heinrich (1931); Gilligan et al. (2008)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Heinrich (1931)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The head and thorax are brown, and the palps are sordid white with the outer side sparsely dusted with blackish fuscous. The ground color of the forewing is brownish-white and is overlain with a somewhat irregular brown basal patch that extends along the inner margin from the base to near the middle. The patch extends inward to near the middle of the wing and has a thin white margin on its costal side. A broad dark band extends from the costa just beyond the middle and curves apically where it often merges and fuses with an extensive area of dark brown to blackish-brown shading. The tornal area has varying amounts of whitish ground that is often heavily suffused with brown. The costa has indistinct short brown streaks along its length that are interspersed with lighter marks. The fringe is fuscous with a whitish band at the base. The hindwing is dark smoky fuscous and paler towards the base, while the fringe is pale smoky fuscous with a dark basal band. Gilligan et al. (2008) note that the most distinctive feature of this species is the thin line of white scales that line the basal patch on the costal side. Ancylis definitivana resembles A. brauni in having a basal patch with a thin white marginal line and a blackish smudge below the costa at around two-thirds. It is best distinguished by the shape of the basal patch which is smooth-edged, angular, and ends as a sharp point, versus being irregular and not ending as a sharp point in A. brauni.
Wingspan: 12-14 mm (Heinrich, 1931)
Forewing Length: 5.0-6.5 mm (Gilligan et al., 2008)
Adult Structural Features: Gilligan et al. (2008) provide images of the male and female genitalia. They note that the male genitalia are distinctive in having the ventral margin of the valva less strongly emarginated relative to other Ancylis. This results in the neck being relatively wide and the angular corner of the sacculus being weakly developed.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: A. Braun (cited in Heinrich, 1931) observed larvae that were feeding on Lanced-leaved Buckthorn and noted that the young larva makes a characteristic fold in the leaf toward its tip by bringing the outer margin at one point close against the midrib. Feeding takes place beyond the fold toward the tip of the leaf. As it consumes the leaf in front of it the larva extends the fold backward toward the base of the leaf and continues feeding on the exposed leaf tissue. The larva is pale yellowish and rather translucent, with the head about the same color as the rest of the body. Pupation in captivity occurred in a leaf fold that was usually at the edge of a leaf. By the time the fall generation appeared in September and October, the leaves were usually in rather poor condition. The mode of feeding at this time was not as stereotypic, with the larva feeding at either end of the fold or irregularly.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Ancylis brauni is restricted to the eastern US and adjoining areas of southern Canada (Ontario; Quebec). In the US, scattered populations have been found from Vermont westward to Illinois and southward to South Carolina, Alabama, and western Tennessee. As of 2022, we have a single record from the Coastal Plain.
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 adults have been found from January through September in different areas of the range, with a seasonal peak typically from May through July. As of 2022, our one state record is from late-July.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The preferred habitats are poorly documented.
Larval Host Plants: The only known hosts are in the genus Rhamnus. The adults have been reared from larvae that were feeding on Lanced-leaved Buckthorn (R. lanceolata) and adults have been found resting on Alder-leaved Buckthorn (R. alnifolia), which is a suspected host (Heinrich, 1931). Neither of these species occur in North Carolina. - View
Observation Methods: The adults occasionally visit lights. We need information on host use and habitat requirements for populations in North Carolina.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S1-S3]
State Protection:
Comments: This species is seemingly rare in the state, but we need additional information on its host use, habitat requirements, and distribution and abundance before we can assess its conservation status.

 Photo Gallery for Ancylis brauni - No common name

Photos: 1

Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2020-07-27
Jones Co.
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