Moths of North Carolina

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Clepsis persicana (Fitch, 1856) - White Triangle Tortrix

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Tortricoidea

Family:
Tortricidae

Subfamily:
Tortricinae

Tribe:
Archipini

P3 Number:
51a0357

MONA Number:
3682.00

Other Common Names:
White Triangle Clepsis, Green Needleworm

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)

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

Technical Description, Adults: Freeman (1958)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Chapman and Lienk (1971); MacKay (1962)

Adult Markings: This is a distinctive species with a prominent white costal patch that contrasts sharply with the surrounding reddish-brown coloration. The following is based on descriptions by Forbes (1923) and Freeman (1958). The head, palps and thorax are yellowish-tawny. The forewing is light orangish-ocherous from the base to the inner edge of the posteriorly oblique median band. The median band is reddish-brown and extends from the costa to the inner margin. It fuses with a similarly colored broad band that extends from the costa at about three-fourths to the middle of the wing. The fused bands enclose a large, triangular, silvery-white costal patch. The terminal fourth of the wing has a mixture of light reddish brown that is dusted with silvery-gray anteriorly, along with a whitish zone at the termen that is infused with reddish-brown speckles. The fringe is light ocherous. The hindwing is smoky gray except for a narrow light gray zone along the costa, and the fringe is whitish with a thin, dark, basal line. The costal fold of the male is well developed and extends all the way to the white costal patch.

Wingspan: 19-22 mm (Freeman, 1958)

Forewing Length: 8.5-10.5 mm for males and 10.0-11.0 mm for females (Gilligan and Epstein, 2014; TortID).

Adult Structural Features: Gilligan and Epstein (2014; TortID) have images of the male and female genitalia.

Structural photos

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

Immatures and Development: Chapman and Lienk (1971) summarized life history information that is mostly based on studies in apple orchards in Nova Scotia. The mid-instar larvae drop to the ground in the fall and overwinter in shelters that are constructed by folding recently fallen leaves. The larvae continue feeding in the spring either on the ground vegetation or after ascending to feed on trees and shrubs. The mature larvae crawl down the tree trunks and pupate under flakes of bark or in the ground cover. The adults emerge after about two weeks and the mated females lay groups of eggs on the upper surface of leaves or on smooth bark. The hatchlings cannot construct their own shelters and lower themselves by silk strands in search of abandoned shelters of other tortricids. If successful, they remain in the trees and feed on the foliage where they may web leaves and developing fruits together to form shelters. Otherwise, they drop to the ground and feed on low-lying vegetation. After reaching the mid-instar stages in the late summer and fall, they drop to the ground and form overwintering shelters. The last instars are approximately 14-18 mm long with a pale green abdomen. The head and prothoracic shield are yellowish brown and unmarked, and an anal comb is present (Gilligan and Epstein, 2014; TortID).

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Clepsis persicana is broadly distributed across North America where boreal or cool, temperate forests prevail. It occurs in the US in Alaska, in California and the Pacific Northwest, in the central and northern Rockies, and in the eastern US. In the East the range extends from Maine southward through the Appalachian region to western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee, and westward through the Great Lakes region to Minnesota and eastern North Dakota. This species occurs in much of southern and central Canada from the Yukon Territories and British Columbia eastward to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. As of 2023, all of our records are from medium to higher elevation sites in 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: The adults have been observed from May through October in different areas of the range, with most areas having a seasonal peak in activity during June and July. As of 2023, our records extend from early June through early July.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Local populations are typically found in boreal or cool-temperate forests. As of 2023, all of our records come from mid- to high elevations in the Blue Ridge and mainly from Spruce-Fir forests.

Larval Host Plants: The larvae are highly polyphagous and feed on a taxonomically diverse group of plants that include conifers, hardwood trees and shrubs, grasses, and herbs (MacKay, 1962; Powell, 1964; Prentice, 1966; Chapman and Lienk, 1971; Ferguson, 1975; Powell and De Benedictis, 1996; Robinson et al., 2010; Gilligan and Epstein, 2014). The reported hosts include Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) and other firs, Box-elder (Acer negundo) and other maples, alders (Alnus), serviceberries (Amelanchier), asters (Aster), English Daisy (Bellis perennis), birches (Betula), Ceanothus, Sweet-fern (Comptonia peregrina), hazelnuts (Corylus), American Beech (Fagus grandifolia), strawberries (Fragaria), ashes (Fraxinus), larches (Larix), Canada Mayflower (Maianthemum canadense), apples (Malus domestica), American Hop-hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana), Common Timothy (Phleum pratense), spruces (Picea), smartweeds (Polygonum), Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum, Balsam Poplar (Populus balsamifera), Quaking Aspen (P. tremuloides), cherries and peaches (Prunus), Choke Cherry (P. virginiana), Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), buttercups (Ranunculus), Raphanus, gooseberries (Ribes), roses (Rosa), brambles (Rubus), Sheep Sorrel (Rumex acetosella) and elms (Ulmus). - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General High Elevation Forests

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S2S3

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

Comments: This species reaches its southern range limit in the southern Appalachians and is mostly restricted to high-elevation forests that may be vulnerable to future climate change.

Photo Gallery for Clepsis persicana - White Triangle Tortrix

Photos: 14

	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-07-11 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2024-06-25 Yancey Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Owen McConnell and Simpson Eason on 2024-06-20 Graham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Owen McConnell and Simpson Eason on 2024-06-20 Graham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-06-19 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-06-19 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-06-19 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-06-07 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-06-07 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-06-25 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-06-25 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Lori Owenby on 2016-06-29 Yancey Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Lori Owenby on 2016-06-29 Yancey Co. Comment:		Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger, P. Scharf on 2015-06-18 Avery Co. Comment: