Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Tortricidae Members:	Argyrotaenia Members:	29 NC Records

Argyrotaenia juglandana (Fernald, 1879) - Hickory Leafroller Moth

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Tortricoidea

Family:
Tortricidae

Subfamily:
Tortricinae

Tribe:
Archipini

P3 Number:
51a0281

MONA Number:
3622.00

Comments: The genus Argyrotaenia contains approximately 100 described species, with most occurring in Nearctic and Neotropical regions. Thirty-six species are currently recognized in North America.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

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

Technical Description, Adults: Fernald (1879)

Adult Markings: This is one of our more distinctive Argyrotaenia. The head, thorax, and ground color of the forewing varies from reddish brown to dark brown, and small pale to whitish scale patches are present at the base of each wing and the adjoining tip of the posterior end of the thorax that form a conspicuous light spot when the wings are held together at rest. The forewing has two oblique, dark, narrow bands. The first begins at about the basal third of the costa and extends obliquely across to the dorsal margin, while the second begins just beyond the middle of the costa and parallels the first. Both bands tend to be slightly wider on the costal and dorsal ends (Fernald, 1879). Scattered patches of straw-colored scales occur throughout the forewing that are most prominent on the males. These sometimes produce a reticulated pattern and tend to be concentrated along the margins of the two oblique bands. The base of the fringe and adjoining areas of the subapical region tend to be concolorous with the oblique bands and washed with darker pigmentation. The hindwing and fringe are both fuscous. Argyrotaenia quercifoliana and Adoxophyes negundana might be confused with this species, but they have a well-developed reticulate pattern, more complex banding patterns, and lack the pale spot near the posterior margin of the thorax.

Wingspan: 15-20 mm for males; 20-26 mm for females (Fernald, 1879).

Adult Structural Features: See images below.

Structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: The larvae are leaf-rollers that primarily feed on hickories and walnuts. They feed from within longitudinally rolled leaves and pupate beneath the bark on the trunk of the host tree (Baker, 1972). The full-grown larvae are about 20 mm long and are pale to translucent, with pale green heads that are tinged with brown.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Argyrotaenia juglandana occurs throughout much of the Eastern Deciduous Forest from Vermont, New Hampshire, and adjoining areas of extreme southern Canada westward to Wisconsin. From there the range extends broadly southward to Arkansas, extreme eastern Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. Populations appear to be absent from many areas of the southeastern Coastal Plain despite the presence of host trees in the region. As of 2023, our records for North Carolina are confined to the Blue Ridge and Piedmont.

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 documented in eastern North America from April through September, with most records occurring from May-July. As of 2022 our records extend from late May through mid-July.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Local populations are generally associated with hardwood forests, particularly where hickories and walnuts are well represented.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed mainly on hickories and walnuts, including Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), Bitternut Hickory (Carya cordiformis) and Shagbark Hickory (C. ovata) (Fernald, 1879; Kearfott, 1907b; Forbes, 1923; Craighead et al., 1950; Freeman, 1958; Schaffner, 1959; Baker, 1972; Heppner 1974; Godfrey et al., 1987; Lam et al. 2011). They appear to rarely use other hosts such as species of Corylus, Prunus, and Viburnum (Brown et al., 2008). - View

Observation Methods: The adults occasionally appear at lights during the early summer months. The larvae have rarely been reported and more information is needed on host use and the larval ecology.

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: As of 2023 we have only 15 site records for this species which suggests that it is uncommon, although widely distributed in the mountains and Piedmont.

Photo Gallery for Argyrotaenia juglandana - Hickory Leafroller Moth

Photos: 24

	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-14 Watauga Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-06-25 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-01 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-30 Swain Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-07-27 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-07-27 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-06-24 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-06-09 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-06-09 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2022-08-08 Cabarrus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-07-03 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-06-29 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-06-29 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-06-21 Caswell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-06-07 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Stefanie Hedrick on 2022-06-06 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-06-01 Montgomery Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-05-28 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-06-28 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-06-23 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-06-23 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-07-04 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-07-04 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Doug Blatny/Jackie Nelson on 2012-06-30 Ashe Co. Comment: