Moths of North Carolina

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Argyrotaenia quercifoliana (Fitch, 1858) - Yellow-winged Oak Leafroller Moth

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Tortricoidea

Family:
Tortricidae

Subfamily:
Tortricinae

Tribe:
Archipini

P3 Number:
51a0282

MONA Number:
3623.00

Other Common Names:
Oak Leafroller, Lined Oak Leafroller

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: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)

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

Adult Markings: This is a distinctively marked species that is difficult to confuse with other forms. The head, thorax, and forewing have a cream-colored ground that is speckled with numerous small golden-brown or rusty brown blotches. The forewing has two darker brown lines that begin at the costa at around one-fourth and one-half and extend obliquely to the dorsal margin. The second line commonly has a longitudinal line near its midpoint that joins a curved subterminal line to form two large hollow, irregular ovals in the subterminal area. A final dark marginal line is present at the juncture with the cream-colored cilia that is connected to the subterminal line by a series of 4-5 short longitudinal lines. The hindwing is white and sometimes has yellow shading in the lower half (Covell 1984; Forbes, 1923).

Wingspan: 16-20 mm (Forbes, 1923)

Forewing Length: 7.5-9.5 mm for males and 9.0-11.5 mm for females (Gilligan and Epstein, 2014)

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

Immatures and Development: The larvae are leaf-rollers that feed on oaks and possibly other hosts. They typically begin feeding near the tips of the leaves and draw and curl the sides inward using silk strands. They remain within their silk-bound, curled shelters and skeletonize the leaf tissue from within. With time they adjust their positions rearward and continue to skeletonize fresh tissue (Fitch, 1858; Hitchcock, 1961). The full grown larvae are about 20 mm long. They are light green with a bluish-green central line due to the digestive tract, and have an amber-yellow head that is unmarked. The final instar either pupates within the shelter or leaves the host plant and pupates on nearby vegetation. Pupation typically occurs beneath a thin sheet of protective silk that is spun on a leaf. The pupae are green and blend in well with green leaves that are often used as pupation sites.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Argyrotaenia quercifoliana is broadly distributed across eastern North America in areas where oaks abound. The range extends from Nova Scotia westward through the New England states and adjoining areas of extreme southern Canada to as far west as Minnesota.The range extends southward through much of the eastern US before terminating in southern Texas and the remaining Gulf Coast states to as far east as Florida. This species occurs essentially statewide in North Carolina, but tends to be most common in the 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 observed from March through September at different sites throughout the range, with a peak abundance from May through July. Local populations in North Carolina appear to be univoltine, with a peak in flight activity during May.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Argyrotaenia quercifoliana is typically associated with hardwood or mixed hardwood forests, particularly those where oaks are well represented. They are commonly found in residential neighborhoods in semi-wooded settings.

Larval Host Plants: Oaks appear to be the primary host species, including members of both the red oak and white oak groups (Freeman, 1958; Schaffner, 1959; Baker, 1972; Ferguson, 1975; Covell, 1984; Godfrey et al., 1987; Wagner et al., 1995a; Heppner, 2003; Robinson et al., 2010; Gilligan and Epstein, 2014; Marquis et al. 2019). Some of the documented hosts include White Oak (Quercus alba), Scarlet Oak (Q. coccinea); Bur Oak (Q. macrocarpa), Pin Oak (Q. palustris), Post Oak (Q. stellata), Northern Red Oak (Q. rubra), Black Oak (Q. velutina), and Live Oak (Q. virginiana). Species other than oaks have been reported as hosts, but the larvae wander in search of pupation sites and caution is warranted in accepting these reports. The other reported hosts include Mountain Maple (Acer spicatum), apples (Malus), American Witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), buckthorns (Frangula), sumacs (Rhus) and blackberries (Rubus). - View

Observation Methods: Most of our records are based on adults that were attracted to lights. More information is needed on host use in North Carolina and we encourage naturalists to search for larvae and document host use.

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:

Photo Gallery for Argyrotaenia quercifoliana - Yellow-winged Oak Leafroller Moth

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

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-26 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-14 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-23 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2025-05-17 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2025-05-09 Cumberland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-02 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-01 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-04-28 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-24 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-24 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-10 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-06-07 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-01 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-05-30 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-29 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-27 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-25 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-19 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2024-05-13 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2024-05-13 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2024-05-13 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-12 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-12 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-05-04 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-05-04 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2024-04-29 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-04-28 Brunswick 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 2023-06-24 Buncombe Co. Comment: