Moths of North Carolina
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8 NC Records

Cenopis pettitana (Robinson, 1869) - Maple-basswood Leafroller Moth

Cenopis pettitanaCenopis pettitana
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tortricoidea Family: TortricidaeSubfamily: TortricinaeTribe: SparganothiniP3 Number: 51a0417 MONA Number: 3725.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984; as Sparganothis pettitana); Beadle and Leckie (2012).Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Powell and Brown (2012)Technical Description, Immature Stages: MacKay (1962)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Most specimens of Cenopis pettitana can be distinguished from congeners by their relatively large size, pale forewing color, and simple markings that are often missing. The following description is based on that of Powell and Brown (2012). The male head, thorax, and forewing ground color are typically pale to bright yellow, and rarely white. The darker markings that overlay the ground are variable and range from totally absent to well defined. There usually is an incomplete, oblique, orange-brown fascia from the costa at about one-third the distance from the base to the apex. It is widest at the costa and quickly narrows to an irregular line that can extend to the middle of the inner margin, but often fades before reaching it. Most specimens also have a variably developed, orange-brown costal patch at about two-thirds that is comprised of small, interrupted spots and dashes. In some specimens the patch may extend as an irregular line towards the subtornal region. In the female the head, palps, thorax and forewings are typically white, but can range to faintly yellow in less than 10% of specimens. The forewing almost always lacks the darker patterning seen in the males.
Forewing Length: 9.0–11.0 mm for males and 12.0–14.0 mm for females (Powell and Brown, 2012)
Adult Structural Features: Powell and Brown (2012) have illustrations and detailed descriptions of the male and female genitalia and note that neither one is useful in distinguishing Cenopis pettitana from those of closely related species.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Local populations appear to be univoltine, and the larvae roll or tie leaves together to form feeding shelters. Rose et al. (1997) reported that the eggs are laid during the summer on the twigs and small branches of the host plant, and overwintering is passed in the egg stage. The hatchlings appear in early spring and the young larvae initially feed in the buds, then later on leaves by May and June. The fully grown larvae are around 21-23 mm long with dull green to greenish brown bodies and dark brown to blackish heads and prothoracic shields. The prothoracic shield often has a whitish anterior margin. Pupation occurs within a folded leaf. The females that emerge in the summer mate and lay eggs that overwinter.

Geise et al. (1964) conducted a detailed study of the life history in Wisconsin where the larvae feed on Sugar Maple. The larvae roll maple leaves, usually from the bottom downward, and use the shelters for resting and pupation. Feeding occurred outside of the shelters on nearby leaves. Spiders and a pentatomid bug were the most important predators of the larvae. The rolled leaves often dropped to the ground after about a month, with most of the larvae dying shortly thereafter. Pupation in Wisconsin occurred in late June through early July, with the adults emerging in late July.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Cenopis pettitana is restricted to eastern North America where it occurs in southern Canada from Saskatchewan eastward to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. In the US this species occurs from Maine southward to central Florida, and westward to central Texas, central Oklahoma, Missouri, eastern Nebraska, Minnesota and eastern North Dakota. As of 2023, all of our records are from the Coastal Plain except for one higher elevation record 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: The adults have been observed during every month of the year in different areas of the range, but most fly between May and August. Populations in North Carolina are univoltine, with our records through 2023 extending from mid-May through early July.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Local populations are generally found in or near hardwoods. We have site records that include a barrier island, mesic bottomlands in the Coastal Plain, and a mountain fen.
Larval Host Plants: The primary hosts appear to be basswood and maples -- particularly in the Northeast -- but other hardwoods such as oaks are occasionally used (MacKay, 1952; Schaffner, 1959;Geisecet al., 1964; Kimball, 1965; Prentice, 1966; Goodfrey et al., 1987; Wagner et al., 1995; Powell and Brown, 2012; Marquis et al., 2019). The reported hosts include Rocky Mountain Maple (Acer glabrum), Bigtooth Maple (A. grandidentatum), Red Maple (A. rubrum), Sugar Maple (A. saccharum), Mountain Maple (A. spicatum), alders (Alnus), American hornbean (Carpinus caroliniana), White Oak (Q. alba), Scarlet Oak (Q. coccinea), Northern Red Oak (Q. rubra), Post Oak (Q. stellata), Black Oak (Q. velutina), Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides), Zig-zag Goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis), American Basswood (Tilia americana) and American Elm (Ulmus americana). - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and the larvae can be found in leaf rolls and tied leaves on maples and other hosts.
Wikipedia
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 is uncommon in the state, with only six site records as of 2023.

 Photo Gallery for Cenopis pettitana - Maple-basswood Leafroller Moth

Photos: 3

Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2023-05-21
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2021-05-22
Cabarrus Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2006-05-28
Carteret Co.
Comment: