Moths of North Carolina

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Cydia latiferreana (Walsingham, 1879) - Filbertworm Moth

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Tortricoidea

Family:
Tortricidae

Subfamily:
Olethreutinae

Tribe:
Grapholitini

P3 Number:
51a1383

MONA Number:
3494.00

Comments: Cydia is a large genus with over 200 described species that occur worldwide, and with around 50 species in North America. Several species are important economic pests that often feed on fruits and seeds.

Species Status: This wide-ranging species is geographically variable in external coloration, patterning, and genitalia and may represent an unresolved species complex (Gilligan and Epstein, TortAI; Heinrich, 1926).

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984; as Melissopus latiferreanus); Beadle and Leckie (2012)

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1923); Gilligan et al. (2008)

Adult Markings: Populations are geographically variable across the range. Those in North Carolina and surrounding areas typically have a light reddish or reddish-brown ground color on the head, thorax, and body with varying levels of heavy pale whitish dusting. The dusting in some specimens can be so dense on the apical two-thirds of the forewing that is becomes the predominant color. The ocellus has a lead-colored vertical bar on the posterior and anterior margins, with the anterior one longer and often continuing to the inner margin. The central area is similar to the overall ground color and has two or three faint, black, horizontal lines or rows of dots. Similar black marks are sometimes present between the ocellus and the apical third of the costa.

The ground in overlain with a heavy median lead-colored fascia that extends from the costa to the inner margin where it tends to broaden. Immediately behind it is a narrow, posteriorly oblique stria that extends from the costa inward to about one-third, then angles and broadens. It typically terminates before reaching the anterior vertical bar on the ocellus. A thin, posteriorly oblique, lead-color stria also extends from the costa at around three-fourths and projects towards the apical third of the termen. The fringe is lead-colored with a reddish line at the base, while the hindwing varies from gray to blackish brown and has a paler fringe with a dark basal line.

Wingspan: 14-19 mm (Covell, 1984)

Forewing Length: 6.0-9.5 mm (Gilligan et al., 2008)

Adult Structural Features: Gilligan et al. (2008) and Gilligan and Epstein (TortAI) provide images of the male and female genitalia and note that the male genitalia are variable across the range of the species.

Structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: The larvae feed on the acorns, nuts, and burrs of oaks, beeches, hazelnuts and other hosts. Gibson (1972) reported that the female usually oviposits through the bottom of the cup of White Oak acorns while the nut is still forming. The larva will normally consume all of the nutmeat and may move to adjacent nuts before completing its growth. Pupation normally takes place in leaves and other debris on the ground. Forbes (1923) noted that the cocoon is commonly formed between a leaf and a nearly circular piece that is cut out of another leaf. In addition to feeding on hard fruits, the larvae have also been reported to infest oak galls produced by cynipid wasps. Overwintering occurs in the soil or leaf litter, and pupation occurs the following spring. The last instar larvae are 12-15 mm in length and have a whitish-gray abdomen. The head is yellowish brown and the prothoracic shield pale brown with faint dark mottling (Gilligan and Epstein; TortAI). This species lacks an anal comb.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Cydia latiferreana has a very broad distribution that covers much of the conterminous US where the host plants are present. It is also found along portions of southern Canada from British Columbia eastward to Nova Scotia. This species occurs statewide in North Carolina.

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: Local populations typically have two or more generations per year and have long flight seasons. The adults can be found nearly year-round in California, and well into November and December in Texas. In other areas of the range the flight season most commonly lasts from April or May through October. As of 2022, we have records that extend from late-April through late-October.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Local populations are commonly found in hardwood or mixed hardwood-pine forests that support oaks and other hosts. Our records include montane mesic hardwoods and barrier islands.

Larval Host Plants: The larvae are polyphagous and feed on a taxonomically diverse group of woody plants (Heinrich, 1926; Craighead et al., 1950; MacKay, 1959; Prentice, 1966; Peacock et al., 1988; Heppner, 2007; Brown et al., 2008; Gilligan and Epstein, 2014). Oaks appear to be the most important group, including White Oak (Quercus alba), Southern Red Oak (Q. falcata), Burr Oak (Q. macrocarpa), Water Oak (Q. nigra), Northern Red Oak (Q. rubra) and Black Oak (Q. velutina). Hazelnuts and filberts (Corylus) -- particularly the European Hazelnut (Corylus avellana) are also important, especially when grown in commercial operations (Chambers et al., 2011). Other taxa that are used are chestnuts (Castanea), birches (Betula), beeches (Fagus), walnuts (Juglans), cherries (Prunus), and Pomegranate (Punica granatum). We do not have any feeding records in North Carolina. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and the larvae can be found inside acorns.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Oak-Hickory Forests

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S4S5

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

Comments: This species is widespread and common in most areas of the state and shows no evidence of widespread declines.

Photo Gallery for Cydia latiferreana - Filbertworm Moth

201 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-25 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-21 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-20 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-19 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-07-13 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-08 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-08 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Larry Chen, Sarah Toner, Joye Zhou on 2025-06-20 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-06-08 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-05-17 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-10-05 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-09-23 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-09-22 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-14 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2024-09-14 Davidson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-09-14 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-09-11 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-09-11 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2024-09-07 Alamance Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-09-04 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-09-02 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-01 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-08-31 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-08-28 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-08-28 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-08-27 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-17 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-17 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-17 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-11 Madison Co. Comment: