Moths of North Carolina
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
 Family (Alpha):
« »
View PDFTortricidae Members:
Amphiphala Members:
3 NC Records

Amphiphala liatriana Roberts and Sabourin - No Common Name

No image for this species.
Taxonomy
Family:
Tortricidae		P3 Number:
51a0188.40n		 MONA Number:
3777.10
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following description of the adults is based mostly on that of Roberts et al. (2024). The head and palps are cream-colored and the antenna similar but somewhat darker. The vertex has a pair of sublateral, fan-shaped clusters of scales that meet at the mid-line of the head, while the scales on the frons are bushy and ascending. The antenna is about 0.5 length of forewing and the labial palp is porrect. The thorax is slightly darker than the head, with smooth scales and a prominent tegula of similar color on each side. The forewing has a yellowish-ochre ground color that is overlain with a dark brown, subtriangular, median fascia that is narrowest at the costa and progressively broadens to the inner margin. The only other prominent mark is a short and narrow preapical band that is dark tawny and slightly sinuous. It extends from the costa obliquely outward and terminates well before reaching the outer margin. The hindwing is light brown with a fringe that is concolorous except for a lighter basal line and a lighter outer margin.

Roberts et al. (2024) noted that A. liatriana is very similar to Cochylichroa hospes. In the latter, the medial, sub-triangular fascia is usually slightly narrower at the costa, and usually slightly broader at the base at the inner margin. The fascia is usually dark brown in A. liatriana and more of a dark reddish-brown in C. hospes, while the preapical band is less defined in C. hospes. The authors noted that both species show significant variation in patterning, and that genitalia provide the most reliable way to identify these species.
Adult Structural Features: Roberts et al. (2024) have descriptions and illustrations of the male and female genitalia.
Immatures and Development: The larvae specialize on blazing-stars (Liatris). The following summary of the life history is based on that of Roberts et al. (2024) who studied this species in Maine. The adults in Maine fly during the first and second week of August when and are most active at dusk. The females lay whitish-translucent eggs singly on the flower bracts Liatris, with development to hatching requiring 4–5 days. The hatchlings move to the top of the flower and descend into it, then feed directly on the seeds. They bore horizontally through the inflorescence and feed on seeds as they are encountered. Larvae in Maine were observed from August through September, and probably competed for seeds with larvae of an Isophrictis sp. that occurred in the same inflorescences. The last instar larvae were 7–8 mm long, translucent gray, and shaded with dark green and pinkish purple. The cervical shield was pale, and the head pale brownish yellow. Pupation was not observed, but the authors surmised that it likely takes place in the summer.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: As of 2024, specimens have been documented in Maine, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, North Carolina, South Carolina and Ontario (Robert et al., 2024).
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Amphiphala liatriana
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 July through September in different areas of the range. As of 2024, our very limited records are from April, August and September.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Local populations are generally associated with remnant prairie or savanna habitats, including pine savannas in the Coastal Plain.
Larval Host Plants: The larvae likely feed on several species of Liatris, but the only reported host to date is Northern Blazing-star (L. scariosa; Roberts et al., 2024). This species is restricted to the Blue Ridge and western Piedmont in North Carolina, so other species are likely used in the Coastal Plain where all of our records are from as of 2024.
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and the larvae can be found in the inflorescences of blazing-stars.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S2S3]
State Protection:
Comments: More information is needed on the life history, host plants, and distribution and abundance of this newly describes species before we can accurately assess its conservation status within the state.