Moths of North Carolina
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Decodes Members:
17 NC Records

Decodes basiplagana (Walsingham, 1879) - Gray-marked Tortricid

Decodes basiplaganaDecodes basiplaganaDecodes basiplagana
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tortricoidea Family: TortricidaeSubfamily: TortricinaeTribe: CnephasiiniP3 Number: 51a0072 MONA Number: 3573.00
Comments: The genus Decodes has 18 described species whose center of distribution is in Mexico and the southwestern US (Powell and Opler, 2009). We have only one species in North Carolina.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Powell and Opler (2009)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The forewing pattern of this wide-ranging species varies markedly, with some individuals having well-defined dark-gray and black fasciate markings, and others being unmarked (Gilligan and Epstein, TortAI). North Carolina specimens are consistent in having well-defined fasciate markings, and the following description applies to these. The head tuft, palps, antennae and thorax are brownish-gray. The forewing is brownish-gray overall with three conspicuous fasciae or bands. The first is a dark gray to blackish-gray, transverse, outwardly curved band at the basal fourth that extends from the costa and terminates before reaching the inner margin. It is followed by a pale gray median fascia that extends from the costa to the inner margin where it broadens and has two short arms or lobes, with one projecting basally, and the other apically along the inner margin. The median fascia is adjoined by a broad dark gray post-median fascia that extends from the costa obliquely to the subtornal region of the inner margin. The subapical region beyond the postmedian fascia is predominately light gray on the dorsal two thirds and often phases to darker gray on the costal third. The apical third of the wing and the median and post-median fasciae are marked with scattered, irregular, vertical dark gray or blackish striations. The fringe is dusted with dark gray and the hindwing is light brown or grayish brown with a paler fringe that has a thin, dark gray basal line.
Forewing Length: 8-9 mm (Powell and Opler, 2009).
Adult Structural Features: Gilligan and Epstein (TortAI) have images of the male and female genitalia, and Obraztsov and Powell (1960) have illustrations and descriptions of the male and female genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larvae feed on oak leaves, but details of the life history are poorly documented. The larvae pupate in a tough cocoon in debris in ground litter or in soil, which is unlike any other Nearctic Tortricinae (Powell, 1960).
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Decodes basiplagana occurs over a broad swath of the US as well as in Ontario and Quebec. In the US this species has been documented in central and southern California, the central Rocky Mountains, and in the central and eastern US from Massachusetts and New York southward to southern Georgia. From there the range extends westward to western Texas, central Oklahoma, Missouri, eastern Nebraska, Minnesota, and eastern North Dakota. As of 2022, our records are restricted to the eastern Piedmont and one site in the 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
Flight Comments: The adults fly from August through November in most areas of the country. As of 2022, we have records from late-August through late-October, with local populations presumably being univoltine.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: As of 2022, all of our records come from semi-wooded residential areas in the Piedmont, except for one mid-elevational site in the Blue Ridge.
Larval Host Plants: The larvae feed on oaks, including Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea) and Northern Red Oak (Q. rubra) in the eastern US,, and Valley Oak (Q. lobata) and Coast Live Oak (Q. agrifolia) in California (Powell, 1980; Robinson et al., 2010). - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Oak-Hickory Forests
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 appears to be somewhat uncommon in the state, but more information is needed on its host use, distribution, and abundance before we can accurately assess its conservation status.

 Photo Gallery for Decodes basiplagana - Gray-marked Tortricid

Photos: 21

Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2024-10-13
Davidson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2024-10-08
Davidson Co.
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Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2024-10-04
Davidson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2022-10-27
Davidson Co.
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Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2021-10-22
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2021-10-08
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2021-10-02
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2021-10-02
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-10-22
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-10-22
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-10-14
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-10-14
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-10-01
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-10-26
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-10-01
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-09-23
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-09-23
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2018-09-30
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2018-09-30
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2018-09-30
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2014-10-13
Cabarrus Co.
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