Moths of North Carolina

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Platynota flavedana Clemens, 1860 - Black-shaded Platynota

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Tortricoidea

Family:
Tortricidae

Subfamily:
Tortricinae

Tribe:
Sparganothini

P3 Number:
51a0443

MONA Number:
3732.00

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984)

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

Technical Description, Adults: Powell and Brown (2012)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: MacKay (1962)

Adult Markings: The following is based in part on the descriptions by Powell and Brown (2012). This species shows substantial variation between the sexes, as well as significant variation within sexes. The head and palps typically vary from rusty brown to blackish-brown. In males, most of the forewing is densely mottled with dark brown and/or dark reddish brown. The distal one-fifth differs in being pale whitish or yellowish, while the basal fifth and thorax are also lighter, but usually less so than the distal one-fifth. The hindwing is pale tan, with a distinct anal fold that is indicated by an unscaled, membranous ridge. Males are occasionally encountered that lack the densely mottled dark coloration that covers much of the wing. They have a conspicuous costal fold that extends beyond the middle of the costa.

In females, the palps are substantially longer than the males, and the forewing ground is light brown or pale reddish-brown and lacks the heavy dark mottling seen in the males. They commonly have a broad, posteriorly oblique dark brown facia that extend from the costa at around one-third to the inner margin between one-half and two-thirds. The fascia often merges with a diffuse, reddish-brown blotch along the inner margin that extends apically towards the subtornal area. A triangular costal patch is also present at around three-fourth that often extends inward as a progressively narrowing band. Both the males and the females usually have a series of raised, irregular ridges that are generally most prevalent in the subterminal area.

Powell and Brown (2012) note that the males of P. rostrana and P. flavedana are often extremely similar given the broad range of variation in forewing maculation present in each. Both have extremely similar genitalia as well, with similar degrees of variation. Males of P. rostrana differ from those of P. flavedana by having complex scaling of the frons that produces a hood-like structure, and in having long orange sex scaling along the anal margin of the hindwing. In North Carolina, these species are usually distinguishable based on the wing coloration and patterning. On P. flavedana, the basal one-fifth and terminal one-fifth of the wing is pale whitish or yellowish and contrast with the overall blackish central region. The basal fifth on P. rostrana is not as noticeably contrasting with the central portion of the wing, and the wing is not heavily mottled or dusted with black. The costal triangle and associated black spot, along with a line of dark scales on the anterior of the thorax, are also useful in distinguishing P. rostrana from P. flavedana.

Forewing Length: 6.0–7.0 mm for males and 7.0–9.0 mm for females (Powell and Brown, 2012); 5.0-6.5 mm for males and 6.0-8.5 mm for females (Gilli

Adult Structural Features: Males have a costal fold that is two-thirds the length of the costa. They lack the "hood"-like scale tuft on the frons that distinguishes males of A. rostrana. Powell and Brown (2012) and Gilligan and Epstein (TortAI, 2014) have illustrations and detailed descriptions of the male and female genitalia.

Structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].

Immatures and Development: Much of our understanding on the life cycle is based on studies of commercial crops such as apples and strawberries. Hull et al. (1995) described the patterns for populations using apples in Virginia and other nearby states. In this region, local populations most commonly have two generations over the course of a year. Larvae of various ages overwinter in the ground cover beneath apple trees and feed on root suckers and weedy vegetation in the spring. The final instars pupate and the adults of the first generation emerge from early May to mid-June. The females lay clusters of 50-70 eggs on the upper surfaces of apple leaves. The young larvae that emerge create feeding shelters by partially cutting through a leaf petiole, then tying the sagging leaf to another leaf. They feed within the leaf shelter and grow for an average of around 35 days before they pupate. The second generation adults begin laying eggs in mid-July, and the larvae grow to the mid-instar stages before overwintering. Wilde and Semel (1966) observed a similar pattern for larvae using strawberries in New York. Mid-instar larvae overwintered in folded strawberry leaves, then resumed feeding in the spring. The larvae pupated within folded leaves and the adults emerged in late-May through mid-June. Adults of the second generation emerged in late-July and August, and the partially grown larvae overwintered. Late instar larvae are approximately 13-21 mm in length with a green to pale green abdomen. The head and prothoracic shield are brownish yellow, and an anal comb is present with 5-8 teeth (Gilligan and Epstein, 2014; TortAI).

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Platynota flavedana is a common species that is found across much of the eastern US and in Ontario and Quebec. In the US the range extends from Maine southward to southern Florida, and westward to central Texas, central Oklahoma, central Kansas, central Nebraska, and eastern South Dakota. This species also ranges south through Central America to Costa Rica and the Caribbean (Powell and Brown, 2012). It occurs statewide in North Carolina.

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
Immature 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 have two or more generations per year. The adults fly year-round or essentially so in Florida, Texas, and other southern localities. Farther north they mostly fly from March through September. As of 2025, our records are from mid-March through early November, with Piedmont and Coastal Plain populations appearing to be multivoltine and Blue Ridge populations bivoltine.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Platynota flavedana uses a variety of habitats that include hardwood and mixed hardwood-conifer forest, woodland edges, fields and fencerows, powerline corridors, roadways and residential neighborhoods. We have records from both mesic and bottomland sites as well as xeric sandhill and dune communities.

Larval Host Plants: The larvae are higly polyphagous and feed on a variety of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants, including cultivated crops and orchard plantings (Fernald, 1882; Bottimer, 1926; Meyrick, 1938; Chapman and Lienk, 1971; Heppner, 2007; Robinson et al., 2010; Powell and Brown, 2012). The reported hosts include maples (Acer), pigweed (Amaranthus), Peanut (Arachis hypogaea), milkweed (Asclepias), Aster, False Indigo (Baptisia australis), Water-hemlock (Cicuta maculata) citrus, carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus), Yankeeweed (Eupatorium compositifolium) and other Eupatoriums, strawberries (Fragaria), cotton (Gossypium), Hedera, sunflowers (Helianthus), Common St. John's-wort (Hypericum perforatum), Boxthorn (Lycium), cultivated apple (Malus domestica), White Sweet-clover (Melilotus alba), Alfalfa (M. sativa), Eastern Parthenium (Parthenium integrifolium), Rough Cinquefoil (Potentilla norvegica), Carolina Laurel Cherry (Prunus caroliniana), Peaches (Prunus persica), raspberries (Rubus), Rhododendrons (Rhododendron), Roses (Rosa), Sassafras (Sassafras albidum), Bagpod (Sesbania vesicaria), Kidneyleaf Rosinweed (Silphium compositum), clovers (Trifolium), elms (Ulmus), blueberries (Vaccinium), Mullein (Verbascum), Ironweed (Veronica), and Black-eyed Pea (Vigna unguiculata). The documented hosts in North Carolina as of 2025 include Kidneyleaf Rosinweed, Carolina Laurel Cherry, and Dog-fennel. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and the larvae can be observed in leaf folds or ties on the host plants.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S5

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

Comments: This is a common and widespread species in the state and populations appear to be secure.

Photo Gallery for Platynota flavedana - Black-shaded Platynota

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

	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-08-30 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-08-30 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-08-30 Moore Co. Comment: Dog-fennel with tied leaves at the top of the plant. A pupa was present in one; adult emerged on 9 September, 2025.		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-08-25 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-11 Ashe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-09 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Patrick Coin on 2025-06-29 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin, David George on 2025-06-29 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-19 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-19 Brunswick Co. Comment: Palps were broken off; FWL = 7 mm; dissected and a female.
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-19 Brunswick Co. Comment: Palps were broken off; FWL = 7 mm; dissected and a female.		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-31 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-09 Cumberland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka and Sally Gewalt on 2025-04-29 Warren Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Miles Buddy on 2025-04-26 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Miles Buddy on 2025-04-26 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-25 Columbus Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-25 Columbus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-19 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-03-15 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-10-04 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-27 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-09-14 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-31 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-29 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-28 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-26 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-14 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-10 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-05-30 Orange Co. Comment: