Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Tortricidae Members:	Pandemis Members:	139 NC Records

Pandemis limitata (Robinson, 1869) - Three-lined Leafroller Moth

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Tortricoidea

Family:
Tortricidae

Subfamily:
Tortricinae

Tribe:
Archipini

P3 Number:
51a0249

MONA Number:
3594.00

Comments: The genus Pandemis includes around 67 described species worldwide, including four native and two introduced species in North America. Our four native species are very closely related and their status as being valid species has been questioned. Recent molecular and phylogenetic studies by Dombroskie and Sperling (2012) provide support for continuing to recognize all four lineages as species. We have only two species in North Carolina that are easily distinguished by both maculation and genitalia.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)

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

Technical Description, Adults: Robinson (1869)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: MacKay (1962)

Adult Markings: The following is mostly based on the description by Freeman (1958) and Robinson (1869). The head, palps, antennae, and thorax are light reddish brown. The ground color of the forewing is light reddish brown and is stained or blotched with numerous small, dark brown marks. The ground is overlain with three darker brown patches or bands. These include a basal patch that covers one third of the forewing, a broad, posteriorly oblique median band that extends from the costa to the inner margin, and a small, semi-oval subapical patch on the costa. The outer margin of the basal patch, both margins of the median band, and the entire inner margin of the subapical patch are bounded by narrow pale lines. The fringe is reddish brown, while the hindwing is two-toned with a whitish band along the costal third of the wing that transitions into gray on the remainder of the wing. In this species the ground color is usually lighter than the basal patch, median band, and subapical patch, but specimens are occasionally seen that have these marks nearly concolorous with the ground.

This species is very similar to Pandemis lamprosana, but tends to be more reddish. It is best distinguished by the subapical patch, which has a narrow pale line around the margin (lacking in P. lamprosana). In addition, P. lamprosana has a uniformly white to light gray hindwing, versus a two-toned gray and white hindwing for P. limitata.

Wingspan: 16-20 mm. for males and 20-25 mm for females (Freeman, 1958).

Forewing Length: 7.0-9.5 mm for males and 9.0-12.0 mm for females (Gilligan and Epstein, TortAI).

Adult Structural Features: Gilligan and Epstein (TortAI) and Freeman (1958) have illustrations of the male and female genitalia.

Structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].

Immatures and Development: Chapman and Lienk (1971) and Gilligan and Epstein (TortAI) summarized the life cycle as follows that is based on northern populations feeding on commercial apples. The females typically lay clusters of 100-200 or more yellowish-green eggs on the upper surface of leaves. Chapman and Lienk (1971) reported that the larvae feed on terminal leaf growth and occasionally on fruit, but Marquis et al. (2019) observed them in Missouri feeding upside down on the undersides of oak leaves beneath webbing. In northern populations, those of the first generation complete development in June through early August. Pupation occurs in the final larval feeding site and the adults emerge in approximately 10 days. The third instar larvae of the second generation construct a hibernaculum of silk in a protected site such as the crotch of a small stem or an old leaf scar. They overwinter, then resume feeding with the spring warm-up on leaves and young fruits. The late instar larvae are approximately 20 mm in length and are entirely green and unmarked with moderately large pinacula and long setae. The head is light yellowish-green, and earlier instars may have a dark lateral mark on each side of the prothoracic shield (Gilligan and Epstein, TortAI). Chapman and Lienk (1971) and MacKay (1962) were unable to find any specific traits that distinguish the larvae from several other Pandemis species, so rearing is needed for proper identification. As of 2025, adults that were reared in North Carolina were from single larvae that were in leaf folds on Common Pawpaw, Pin Oak and Willow Oak.

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Pandemis limitata occurs in southern Canada from British Columbia eastward to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. It also occurs throughout much of the eastern US, with scattered population farther west in the Rocky Mountains and California. In the eastern US, the range extends from Maine southward to northern Florida, and westward to eastern Texas, central Oklahoma, Missouri, eastern Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota. As of 2024, almost all of our records are from the Piedmont and Blue Ridge, with a small number of records from the western Coastal Plain.

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 from March through November in different areas of the range, with the main flight period occurring from May through September. As of 2024, our records extend from late-April through early October. Most local populations in North Carolina appear to be bivoltine, with the first brood following the spring leaf-out and a second occurring in late-summer. High-elevation populations in the Blue Ridge may only produce one generation per year.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Local populations are typically associated with mesic hardwood forests or mixed pine-conifer forests. They can also be found along woodland edges, in orchards and in semi-wooded residential neighborhoods.

Larval Host Plants: Much like P. lamprosana, the larvae are polyphagous and feed on a taxonomically diverse group of deciduous trees and shrubs (Freeman, 1958; Schaffner, 1959; Gilligan and Epstein, 2014; Prentice, 1966; Ferguson, 1975; Godfrey et al., 1987; Wagner et al., 1995; Robinson et al., 2010; Marquis et al., 2019). Some of the reported hosts include Boxelder (Acer negundo), Silver Maple (A. saccharinum), Sugar Maple (A. saccharum), Gray Alder (Alnus incana), Red Alder (A. rubra), False Indigo-bush (Amorpha fruticosa), Paper Birch (B. papyrifera), chestnuts (Castanea), Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa), American Hazelnut (Corylus americana), Burningbush (Euonymus atropurpureus), Common Apple (Malus domestica), Sweet-gale (Myrica gale), commercial apples (Malus domestica), European Crab Apple (M. sylvestris), Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium), Choke Cherry (Prunus virginiana), White Poplar (Populus alba), Balsam Poplar (P. balsamifera), Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides), White Oak (Quercus alba), Scarlet Oak (Q. coccinea), Bur Oak (Q. macrocarpa), Northern Red Oak (Q. rubra), Black Oak (Q. velutina), American Basswood (Tilia americana), American Elm (Ulmus americana) and Slippery Elm (U. rubra), Hillside Blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum) and other Vaccinium, and Viburnum. As of 2024, we have rearing records from Common Pawpaw (Asimina triloba), Pin Oak (Q. palustris) and Willow Oak (Q. phellos). - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.

Wikipedia

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 common in the Piedmont and Blue Ridge and appears to be secure within the state.

Photo Gallery for Pandemis limitata - Three-lined Leafroller Moth

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

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-10-02 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-09-18 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2025-09-11 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-09-10 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin and Marilyn Westphal. on 2025-09-05 Henderson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2025-05-17 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, John Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-08 Harnett Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-05-07 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-30 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-04-23 Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Adult was reared from a caterpillar in a leaf roll of Quercus palustris (4/6/25).		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-04-23 Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Adult was reared from a caterpillar in a leaf roll of Quercus palustris (4/6/25).
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-04-06 Mecklenburg Co. Comment: A larva in an occupied leaf roll of Quercus palustris.		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-04-06 Mecklenburg Co. Comment: A larva in an occupied leaf roll of Quercus palustris.
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-04-06 Mecklenburg Co. Comment: An occupied leaf roll of Quercus palustris. Larva was moved indoors; pupa noticed on 4/16; adult emerged on 4/5/2025.		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-09-28 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2024-09-23 Cabarrus Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-09-22 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-09-17 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-09-14 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-09-08 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2024-09-07 Alamance Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-09-06 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-09-05 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-09-02 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-08-27 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Patrick Coin on 2024-08-26 Chatham Co. Comment: A reared adult; larva in leaf fold on 2024-07-27; adult eclosed on 2024-08-26 (see companion photo of the larva).		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2024-08-15 Yancey Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-03 Mitchell Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Patrick Coin on 2024-07-27 Chatham Co. Comment: A larva that fed on Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) within a leaf fold (see companion photo of the adult that eclosed on 2024-08-26).