Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFTortricidae Members:
Choristoneura Members:
5 NC Records

Choristoneura argentifasciata Heppner, 1989 - No Common Name

Taxonomy
Family: TortricidaeSubfamily: TortricinaeTribe: ArchipiniP3 Number: 620312.00 MONA Number: 3635.10
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Heppner (1989)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This species is a strikingly patterned tortricid and the most colorful of our Choristoneura. The following description is based on the original description by Heppner (1989). The vertex, frons, antennae, and thorax vary from brownish to light brownish yellow. The thorax and the ground color of the forewing are dark orangish-brown, with the latter overlain with a series of silvery-white and orangish-white markings. The most prominent are two silvery-white bands that begin along the costa at one-third and two-thirds and angle posteriorly before terminating near the middle of the wing. Another white band extends longitudinally from the middle of the wing base and terminates at about one-fourth the wing length. Three or four relatively short white costal dashes are present on the apical third. The remainder of the marks are a series of dull orangish-white lines, including one along the inner margin and a second parallel to it that run along the basal three-fourths of the wing, two smaller longitudinal ones in the middle of the wing just beyond one-half, and a series of two or three transverse lines on the apical third. The fringe is orange-buff. The hindwing is brown and sometimes has some orange near the apex and white along the anal margin.
Forewing Length: 6.0-7.0 mm for males; 7.4-8.2 mm for females (Heppner, 1989)
Adult Structural Features: Heppner (1989) has illustrations and detailed descriptions of the genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larval life history is undocumented.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: This species is found throughout all of Florida and along the Gulf coast region to as far west as southeastern Texas. A few scattered records are known from north of Florida to as far as North Carolina. There appears to be one disjunct in northern Mississippi. As of 2022, all of our records are from Craven County near the coast.
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 March through September, with a seasonal peak typically in May through August. As of 2022, we have only five records that extend from early June through late-July.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Local populations are found in coastal forests, but the specific habitat preferences are poorly documented. Heppner (1989) noted that specimens are often collected near Bald Cypress and surmised that it might be a possible host.
Larval Host Plants: The hosts are undocumented. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S1S2]
State Protection:
Comments: This species reaches its northern limit in North Carolina where it is known from a single county and appears to be rare.

 Photo Gallery for Choristoneura argentifasciata - No common name

Photos: 1

Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 1999-07-08
Craven Co.
Comment: Specimens are in the USNM.