Moths of North Carolina
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Acleris Members:
26 NC Records

Acleris ptychogrammos (Zeller, 1875) - No Common Name

Acleris ptychogrammos
view caption 		Acleris ptychogrammos
view caption 		Acleris ptychogrammosAcleris ptychogrammos
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Tortricoidea		 Family:
Tortricidae		Subfamily:
Tortricinae		Tribe:
Tortricini		P3 Number:
51a0009		 MONA Number:
3509.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Obraztsov (1963).                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Acleris ptychogrammos in North Carolina can best be identified by its overall ashy-gray appearance, a prominent, short, basal streak, and a chestnut-brown costal triangle that ends with a pair of dark dashes. The palps and head are light brown, while the thorax grades from light brown anteriorly to more ashy-gray posteriorly. The thorax commonly has a curved line of darker scales anteriorly and two small dark spots just before the posterior tip. The basal half of the forewing is mostly ashy-gray, with a well-defined, short, black, basal dash. A very thin longitudinal line of darker scales is often evident between the basal dash and inner margin that may extend all the way to an obliquely curved ridge of raised scale tufts at the midwing. The scale ridge runs from the inner margin and curves to run along the anterior margin of a prominent chestnut-brown costal triangle. The triangle often has varying amounts of ashy-gray scales near the center, and terminates near the center of the wing where there is a pair of short, dark-brown dashes. The remainder of the wing is ashy-gray, but sometimes a shade darker that the basal half. It has a few scattered, short, transverse lines of dark scales, along with scattered tufts of raised scales. The fringe is light-brown and often with patches of diffuse darker spots that continue for a short distance around the apex, while the hindwing varies from brownish-white to light-brown.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larval life history is poorly documented, but the available evidence to date suggests that the larvae feed on dogwood leaves. Jeff Niznik and David George found an early-instar larva in North Carolina within a webbed shelter between the mid-vein and a lateral vein on the lower surface of a Flowering Dogwood. Webbing caused the leaf to buckle (perhaps becoming a leaf fold with time?), and the larva skeletonized tissue from within the shelter. An adult emerge after about a month.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Acleris ptychogrammos is found in the eastern U.S., and in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. In the U.S. the range extends from Maine southwestward primarily through the Appalachian region to as far south as southern Alabama, Mississippi and southeastern Louisiana, and westward to eastern Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin and southern Minnesota. This species is generally absent from the Atlantic Coastal Plain. As of 2024, our records are restricted to the Blue Ridge and Piedmont.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Acleris ptychogrammos
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Immature 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: This species has been found year-round throughout its range, with populations in the southern portion of the range flying nearly year-round, and presumably having two generations annually, versus northern populations flying mostly during the late-spring and early summer months and having a single generation. Populations in North Carolina appear to have two generations per year, with the late-season adults from the second brood overwintering and appearing at lights beginning in early February. As of 2024 our records range from early February through early-December.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Most of our records are from sites with mesic hardwood forests.
Larval Host Plants: The only reported host that we are aware of as of 2024 is based on a single record for Red Twig Dogwood (Swida sericea [ = Cornus sericea] by Obraztsov (1963). Jeff Niznik and David George found an early-instar larva in North Carolina within a webbed shelter on the underside of a Flowering Dogwood (Benthamidia florida [= Cornus florida]). - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights. Additional information is needed on host use and the larval ecology in North Carolina and elsewhere.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR[S2S3]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This species appears to be uncommon in North Carolina with only a few site records as of 2024. More information is needed on its hosts and preferred habitats before we can accurately assess its conservation status.

 Photo Gallery for Acleris ptychogrammos - None

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

Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2024-09-02
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2024-09-02
Transylvania Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2024-08-07
Transylvania Co.
Comment: A webbed shelter on a Flowering Dogwood leaf, with the webbing removed to reveal a larva that was inside. 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2024-08-07
Transylvania Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-07-26
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-27
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-05-09
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn on 2023-03-24
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-02-28
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-10-21
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-03-23
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-07-16
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-04-07
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2020-12-10
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2020-11-26
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2020-11-22
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-03-11
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2020-03-05
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2020-03-05
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2020-03-05
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-06-08
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2019-04-09
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-04-05
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-03-10
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-02-28
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-02-06
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-07-21
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-07-21
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-07-07
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-07-07
Madison Co.
Comment: