Moths of North Carolina
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8 NC Records

Adoxophyes furcatana (Walker, 1863) - No Common Name

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tortricoidea Family: TortricidaeSubfamily: TortricinaeTribe: ArchipiniP3 Number: 620369.00 MONA Number: 3690.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Freeman (1958)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following is based in part on the description by Freeman (1958). The head, thorax, and ground of the forewing are straw-yellow. The forewing ground is finely reticulated with distinct, thin, golden-brown lines. A small brown costal spot is present at around one-third that has a thin dark brown line that slants posteriorly to near the middle of the wing then splits, with one branch curving to the basal fourth of the inner margin and the other curving in the opposing direction an equal distance to the inner margin below the middle. The overall effect is to produce a large circular mark at around one-half when resting individuals are viewed from above. A second faint brown costal spot is present at around four-fifths. It connects to a thin dark brown line that is doubly arcuate and extends to the tornal region. The fringe is shining, light ocherous, and the hindwing and fringe are shining white. This species resembles A. negundana, but the latter has reticulations on the ground that are less distinct, a median band with a pronounced kink near the middle, and a subterminal band that is not doubly arcuate.
Wingspan: 16-18 mm for males and 18-21 mm for females (Freeman, 1958).
Forewing Length: 7.5-10.5 mm (Gilligan and Epstein, 2014; TortID)
Adult Structural Features: Freeman (1958) and Gilligan and Epstein (2014; TortID) have illustrations and descriptions of the male and female genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larvae specialize of American Sycamore and bind a leaf together longitudinally along the main vein to form a longitudinal trough along the underside of the leaf (Freeman, 1958). A nest of sorts is created by gathering the downy pubescence together at the end of the trough. Pupation occurs in this nest. The larva is light green with an ivory-colored head and is extremely active when disturbed.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Adoxophyes furcatana is restricted to the eastern US and is found locally where American Sycamore is present. The range extends from New York southward to Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana, and westward to Missouri, western Tennessee and Illinois. As of 2023, our records are all from the western Piedmont and 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 found from May through September in different areas of the range. As of 2023, our record are from late-May through early September.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Local populations are typically found near streams, rivers, and bottomlands that have sycamores. Two of our records come from a montane riparian area, while two others are from a mesic slope but where sycamores are present along creeks lower down.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae are monophagous on American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) (Craighead et al., 1950; Schaffner, 1959; Prentice, 1966; Baker, 1972; Lam et al., 2011; Gilligan and Epstein, 2014). American Sycamore has been confirmed as the host plant in North Carolina. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights, and the larvae and pupae can be found in the folded leaves of sycamores.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Rich Wet Hardwood 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 appears to be uncommon within the state despite the fact that its host plant is widely distributed across most of North Carolina.

 Photo Gallery for Adoxophyes furcatana - No common name

Photos: 7

Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-08-17
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-08-15
Madison Co.
Comment: An adult from a pupa that was found on the underside of an American Sycamore leaf on 2020-08-06; this adult emerged on 2020-08-15.
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-08-15
Madison Co.
Comment: An adult from a pupa that was found on the underside of an American Sycamore leaf on 2020-08-06; this adult emerged on 2020-08-15.		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2020-08-13
Madison Co.
Comment: A pupa was found on the underside of an American Sycamore on 2020-08-12; this adult emerged the next day.
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2020-08-13
Madison Co.
Comment: A pupa on the underside of a Platanus occidentalis leaf. The pupa was attached to lightly spun webbing above and remove to photograph. 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2020-08-13
Madison Co.
Comment: A pupa on the underside of a Platanus occidentalis leaf. The pupa was attached to lightly spun webbing and remove from the webbing to photograph.
Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2018-09-02
Buncombe Co.
Comment: