Moths of North Carolina

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Argyrotaenia mariana (Fernald, 1882) - Gray-banded Leafroller Moth

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Tortricoidea

Family:
Tortricidae

Subfamily:
Tortricinae

Tribe:
Archipini

P3 Number:
51a0284

MONA Number:
3625.00

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

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

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Gilligan and Epstein (2014)

Adult Markings: The dorsum of the head and thorax are whitish except for dark scale tufts at the posterior end of the thorax. The color of the scale tufts tend to match a dark region near the dorsal margin of the wing base to produce a 'reverse parentheses' pattern when a resting individual is viewed from above. The ground color of the forewing is whitish, but often with a heavy dirty brown wash that tends to be concentrated on the basal half. The most prominent mark is a wide, dark-brown to black band that begins on the costa near the middle and curves obliquely rearward. It terminates near the mid-point of the wing where it adjoins a lighter, narrower, and more poorly defined dirty brown band that continues to the dorsal margin (sometimes missing or reduced on specimens). A triangular dark-brown to black costal patch occurs immediately posterior to the median band, and a small costal dot often follows the costal patch. The dorsal margin has a series of fine dark dots that often extend beyond the termen to the apex, while a similar series is often evident along the costa between the wing base and the median band. The hindwing is gray and the males lack a forewing costal fold (Gilligan and Epstein, 2014).

Forewing Length: 7.0-10.0 mm (Gilligan and Epstein, 2014).

Structural photos

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

Immatures and Development: The females lay masses of 20-120 eggs on the upper surface of leaves and smooth bark, and the first instar larvae disperse via silken threads or crawling to different parts of the plant or to different host plants (Chapman and Lienk, 1971; Gilligan and Epstein, 2014). The early instars skeletonize the underside of leaves along the midrib beneath webbing and gradually expand the feeding area. The last two instars either roll or web leaves, or web the leaves to nearby fruits such as apples. Last instar larvae are approximately 17-23 mm in length and are largely unmarked (Chapman and Lienk, 1971). The abdomen is light green, while the head and prothoracic shield are yellowish green. The anal shield may be lightly mottled with dark green spots, which is useful in separating A. mariana from other Argyrotaenia species (Gilligan and Epstein, 2014). The larval period can last 3-4 months in New York, with pupation occurring in September through early October. Overwintering occurs in the pupal stage (Frost, 1927; Chapman and Lienk, 1971).

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Argyrotaenia mariana is primarily found in eastern North America, with a few occurrences from western Canada to as far west as the Yukon Territory. The range in the East extends from Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and the New England states westward through southern Canada to the Great Lakes region and Minnesota. The range extends from the northern states southward primarily through the southern Appalachian region before ending in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina. As 2022, our records for North Carolina are all from 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: Local populations are univoltine. The adults have been documented from March-August in different regions of the country, with a peak in activity in May and June. As of 2022, almost all of our records are from April and May.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: In North Carolina the adults are commonly found in hardwood forest settings or areas with hardwood forest and edge habitat, including semi-wooded residential neighborhoods.

Larval Host Plants: The larvae are euryphagous and use a taxonomically diverse group of plants (Frost, 1927; Gilliatt, 1937; Prentice, 1966; Chapman and Lienk, 1971; Baker, 1972; Bradley, 1987; Pohl et al., 2005; Robinson et al., 2010; Gilligan and Epstein, 2014). The reported hosts include a maple (Acer sp.), an alder (Alnus sp.), serviceberry (Amelanchier), Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis), Paper Birch (B. papyrifera), Gray Birch (B. populifolia), Sheep Laurel (Kalmia angustifolia), apples and crabapples (Malus spp.), Three-leaved Rattlesnake-root (Nabalus trifoliolatus), an oak (Quercus sp.), Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides), Choke Cherry (Prunus virginiana), commercial pears (Pyrus sp.), raspberries (Rubus), a willow (Salix sp.), American Elm (Ulmus americana), blueberries, including Vaccinium uliginosum, and a viburnum (Viburnum sp.). Gilliatt (1937) noted that this species can become a minor pest in apple orchards. Chapman and Lienk (1971) believed that the primary hosts for this species are members of the Rosaceae. They surmised that many of the host records on other taxa may simply reflect larvae that were collected from the plants, with no direct observed of the larvae feeding. We clearly have much to learn about host specificity for this species. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks:

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 mariana - Gray-banded Leafroller Moth

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

	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-05-06 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-26 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-23 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-09 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-02 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-20 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2024-05-16 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-12 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-12 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Morgan Freese on 2024-04-29 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: jim Petranka on 2024-04-25 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-23 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-13 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2024-04-09 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-07 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-05-23 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-04-28 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-04-20 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and John Petranka on 2023-04-19 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-04-11 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: B bockhahn on 2023-04-05 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-04-04 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-09 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-03 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-04-21 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-04-13 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-05-21 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-05-20 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2021-05-17 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-05-16 Madison Co. Comment: