Moths of North Carolina
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Acleris Members:
50 NC Records

Acleris placidana (Robinson, 1869) - Black-headed Birch Leaffolder Moth


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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tortricoidea Family: TortricidaeSubfamily: TortricinaeTribe: TortriciniP3 Number: 620041.00 MONA Number: 3540.00 MONA Synonym: Acleris logiana
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Immature Stages: MacKay (1962).                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This species tends to be rather uniformly colored, with the most distinctive mark being a black longitudinal dash near the middle of the wing at about one-half the wing length. The palps, head, thorax, and ground color of the forewing can vary from dull white or grayish-white to whitish-tan, and are overlain with a mixture of blackish or dark brown flecks and more diffuse, faint blotches. The costal triangle near the middle of the wing -- that is often well-developed is some Acleris species -- is typically either absence or reduced to two dark blotches along the costa, with the terminal apex near the middle of the wing replaced by a longitudinal black dash. An oblique ridge of raised scales is present at around one-half the wing length that extends from the inner margin to the costa. It separates the basal half of the wing that is often slightly lighter-colored that the apical half. Clusters of small, raised scale patches are also present at around one-fourth and three-fourths the wing length. The hindwing varies from light brown to light gray.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larvae are leaf folders, but occasionally may tie two overlapping leaves together (Baker, 1972). The larvae feed singly and typically fold part or most of a leaf lengthwise, with the upper leaf surface folded inward to expose the underside of the leaf. The larva skeletonizes the tissues within the fold. Pupation occurs within the fold and the adults emerge in 2-3 weeks. The older instars are dull green, with the head, cervical shield, and front legs black.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Acleris placidana is found throughout most of the eastern U.S. and in adjoining regions of southern Canada (Ontario; Quebec; Newfoundland; New Brunswick; Nova Scotia). There are also a few records from western North America, including Alaska, British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. In the eastern U.S. the range extends from Maine southward through the Atlantic Coast states to northern Florida, and westward to northern Mississippi, southeastern Louisiana, western Tennessee, eastern Oklahoma, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. This species is absent or rare in most areas of the southeastern Coastal Plain. As of 2024, our records are restricted to the Piedmont and Blue Ridge.
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
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: The adults have been observed during every month of the year in different areas of the range, with the adults typically first appearing seasonally in March through May, depending on the latitude and local climatic conditions. As of 2024, we have records from mid-February through late-December. Local populations in North Carolina appear to have two or three generations per year.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Most of our records are from mesic hardwood forests or forest edges, particularly where species of birch are present.
Larval Host Plants: The larvae feed on deciduous trees and shrubs, with birches serving as the primary hosts (Forbes, 1923; Meyrick, 1938; Prentice, 1966, Baker, 1972; Ferguson, 1975; MacKay, 1962; Brown et al., 2008; Robinson et al., 2010; Beadle and Leckie, 2012). The reported hosts include Gray Alder (Alnus incana), Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis, Dwarf Birch (B. nana), River Birch (B. nigra), Paper Birch (B. papyrifera), Grey Birch (B. populifolia), Common Apple (Malus domestica), cherry (Prunus) and viburnum (Viburnum). As of 2024, we have rearing records for North Carolina for Yellow Birch and Sweet Birch (B. lenta), which is a new host record. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and the leaf folds are often conspicuous on the host plants.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR[S3S4]
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 can be locally abundant in the Blue Ridge, but much less so in the Piedmont.

 Photo Gallery for Acleris placidana - Black-headed Birch Leaffolder Moth

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

Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-04-16
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-03-16
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-03-04
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-03-03
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-02-28
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2023-10-20
Graham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2023-10-09
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin, Ivanna Knox, Marietta Shattelroe and Avery Young on 2023-09-21
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2023-08-12
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka, David George on 2023-08-05
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-29
Swain Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-19
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-19
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-19
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-06-25
Madison Co.
Comment: A reared adult from a leaf fold on Betula lenta.		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-06-25
Madison Co.
Comment: A reared adult from a leaf fold on Betula lenta.
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-06-07
Madison Co.
Comment: One of several leaf folds that were on Betula lenta; two adults were reared that emerged on 2023-06-25. 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-05-09
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-05-04
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-04-28
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-03-23
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: B bockhahn on 2023-03-06
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-03-01
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-02-21
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-02-16
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-11-27
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-10-25
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2022-09-28
Graham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-09-20
Haywood Co.
Comment: Larvae were in folded leaves on Yellow Birch; larvae on 20 Sept; pupa on 30 Sept; adult on ca. Oct 20. 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-09-20
Haywood Co.
Comment: Larvae were in folded leaves on Yellow Birch; larvae on 20 Sept; pupa on 30 Sept; adult on ca. Oct 20.