Moths of North Carolina
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4 NC Records

Acleris comandrana (Fernald, 1892) - No Common Name

Acleris comandrana
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tortricoidea Family: TortricidaeSubfamily: TortricinaeTribe: TortriciniP3 Number: 51a0015 MONA Number: 3516.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Acleris comandrana has a rather simple pattern compared to many of our Acleris. The palps, head, thorax and ground color of the forewings are typically light tan to reddish-tan, with the only prominent mark being a darker, reddish-brown costal triangle that is often a bit lighter in the center. The triangle is near the mid-wing and terminates as a sharp point near the center of the wing. The ground of the forewing commonly has a two-toned appearance, with the basal half lighter than the apical half. Prominent raised scale tufts are absent on this species (Forbes, 1923), but there are a few tiny dark tufts along the proximal margin and tip of the costal triangle, on the dorsal half of the wing at around one-third the wing length, and at around four-fifths the wing length where they extend as an oblique line from the distal edge of the costal triangle near the costa towards the tornus. The hindwing varies from light brown to steel gray, with a slightly lighter fringe.

Acleris comandrana resembles the dark form of A. cervinana, but the latter has a uniformly darker, warm-brown ground color and lacks the two-toned appearance that is commonly seen in A. comandrana. Acleris macdunnoughi is also similar, but has a uniformly ashy-gray ground color, and the costal triangle is uniformly dark-brown and lacks a light center. Given its rarity in North Carolina, identifications should be verified using genitalia.
Wingspan: 13 mm (Forbes, 1923).
Adult Structural Features: BugGuide has images of the male and female genitalia (see below also).
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable only by close inspection of structural features or by DNA analysis.
Immatures and Development: The larval life history is undocumented.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Acleris comandrana is a northern species that is primarily found in the northeastern U.S. from Maine southward to Maryland and vicinity. As of 2024, we have three site records that are all from Ashe County and may reflect a southern disjunct population in the southern Appalachians.
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 March through November is different areas of the range. Populations in North Carolina appear to be univoltine. As of 2024, our very limited records are from early-June through mid-July.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our very limited records as of 2024 include a mountain bog site and a residential mesic forest site with edge habitat.
Larval Host Plants: The hosts are poorly documented and include Bog Rosemary (Andromeda polifolia) and Bastard Toadflax (Comandra umbellata) (Obratzsov, 1963; Robinson et al., 2010). Bog Rosemary is a northern species that does not occur in North Carolina, and Bastard Toadflax has not been recorded from Ashe County where all of our specimens have been collected as of 2024. The host plants that are used in North Carolina remain a mystery. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.
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 is rare in North Carolina where it appears to reach its southern limits in the northern Blue Ridge of North Carolina. Additional information on host use and habitat requirements are needed to fully assess its conservation status within the state.

 Photo Gallery for Acleris comandrana - No common name

Photos: 1

Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2019-06-06
Ashe Co.
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