Moths of North Carolina

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Desmia funeralis (Hübner, 1796) - Grape Leaffolder Moth

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Pyraloidea

Family:
Crambidae

Subfamily:
Pyraustinae

Tribe:
Spilomelini

P3 Number:
80a1064

MONA Number:
5159.00

Identification

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

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

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Liburd et al. (2022)

Adult Markings: Desmia funeralis and D. maculalis have very similar dorsal patterns and are most reliably identified based on the patterning on the ventral surface of the abdomen. Brian Scholtens notes that D. funeralis either has a solid white patch on the underside of the abdomen on segments 1-5, or a solid white mark with a slight break on segment 3. In contrast, D. maculalis has a broken white patch, where about one-half of segments 3 and 4 are clearly dark. Basically, D. maculalis looks striped on the underside, whereas D. funeralis looks like it is solid white or white with a single dark band (see MPG).

In North Carolina specimens, the outer of the two white spots on the forewing in D. funeralis is sometimes noticeably larger than the inner spot (but often not!), while in D. maculalis they are usually either equal or the outer one is very slightly larger (JBS, pers. obs). Additionally, the hindwing median white band or pair of spots can be used for identification in some instances. In D. funeralis there is usually a single large band that reflects the complete fusion of two smaller spots, and the band may have a hint of an indentation in the middle. In D. maculalis, males and females exhibit different hindwing patterns. The male band closely resembles that of D. funeralis, while the female band consists of either two separate small spots, or two small spots that are partially fused with a pronounced indention near the middle.

Because of the difficulty of reliably identifying specimens based on dorsal patterning, we strongly recommend that both a dorsal image of the moth and a ventral image of the abdomen be submitted together.

Wingspan: 20-28 mm (Forbes, 1924)

Structural photos

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

Immatures and Development: Desmia maculalis was synonymized with D. funeralis by Strauss (1916) and the two were not treated as separate species until recently. As such much of the published literature on the life history is confusing. The following life history account is based on that of Strauss (1916), Smith and Stafford (1955) and Liburd et al. (2022) and appears to apply to D. funeralis sensu stricto. The pupae overwinter on the ground, often in folded, fallen grape leaves, and the adults emerge when the grapes have leafed out. Females lay eggs singly on the underside of leaves. They frequently attach them along the midrib or other major veins, or in the angles between branching veins, with hatchlings appearing after 8-10 days. The young larvae feed in sheltered places, including existing folded leaves that have older larvae. They often web several leaves together and feed in a group, but they soon disperse and live separately in shelters made from either rolling or folding leaves. Leaf rolling prevails in California populations versus leaf-folding in the East (Quayle (1907).

The larvae either feed on the free edge of the leaf inside the roll, or skeletonize the folded leaf. They typically make at least two shelters during their development, and only leave the shelters when moving at night from one location to another. The larval stage last about a month in the Washington, D.C. area (Strauss, 1916). The final instars of the first generation usually drop to the ground and pupate among fallen leaves and debris, but sometimes pupate in leaf shelters on the grapes. The final instars in the last generation may drop to the ground and pupate, but sometimes pupate in envelope-like shelters that are commonly made by cutting a small piece of leaf on three sides and folding it over. At the end of the season these fall to the ground and serve as overwintering sites. Smith and Stafford (1955) reported that the total time from egg to the emergence of the adults in California was 6 1/2 to 7 1/2 weeks for the first brood and 4-5 weeks for the second brood, with pupae from the third brood overwintering.

The fully grown larvae are around 20 mm long and are glossy, translucent, yellow-green on the sides and somewhat darker above, with scattered fine yellow hairs on each segment (Strauss, 1916; Liburd et al., 2022). The head and prothoracic shield are light brown, and there is a dark brown to blackish, diffuse spot on the side of the prothoracic shield. The second thoracic segment has four smaller dark spots when viewed from above.

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Desmia funeralis occurs in Canada from British Columbia to Prince Edward Island, and in every state in the eastern U.S. from North Dakota southward to Texas and eastward to the Atlantic coast. In the West, it occurs in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and California. This species is found 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: The adults fly year-round in Florida, and mostly from February through October elsewhere. As of 2023, our records range from late-March through early-October. North Carolina populations appear to have two generations, and perhaps a partial third.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Local populations are commonly found in habitats that support native grapes and Virginia Creeper. Examples include pine, hardwood, or mixed pine-hardwood forests, particularly where forest gaps, forest roads, wildlife openings, and stream banks provide good conditions for the growth of the host species.

Larval Host Plants: The larvae primarily feed on both native and domesticated grapes, including several Vitis species and Muscadine (Muscadinia rotundifolia). They also commonly use Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), and on rare occasions have been reported to use Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) and members of the Onagraceae (Gaura; Ludwigia; Oenothera); Forbes, 1923; Putman, 1942; Craighead et al., 1950; Schaffner, 1959; Baker, 1972; Godfrey et al., 1987; Scholtens (1996); Liburd and Mead, 2001; Covell, 1984; Heppner, 2007; Robinson et al., 2008; Beadle and Leckie, 2012). Tracy Feldman found the larvae feeding on Bushy Seedbox (Ludwigia alternifolia) in North Carolina (BugGuide), and Ken Kneidel reared an adult from a leaf fold on Porcelain Berry (Ampelopsis glandulosa). We also have a feeding record for Virginia Creeper. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and the folded leaves are often present on grapes and other hosts.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Vitaceous Tangles

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 S5

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

Comments:

Photo Gallery for Desmia funeralis - Grape Leaffolder Moth

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

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-09-21 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin and Marilyn Westphal. on 2025-09-05 Henderson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin and Marilyn Westphal. on 2025-09-05 Henderson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-09-01 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-08-28 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2025-08-28 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2025-08-28 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-23 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-09 Ashe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-08-03 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-28 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-07-26 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Melody McMichael on 2025-07-25 Forsyth Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-12 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2025-07-03 Macon Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-02 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-29 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-29 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-28 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-27 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-22 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-21 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-20 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Larry Chen, Sarah Toner, Joye Zhou on 2025-06-20 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Larry Chen, Sarah Toner, Joye Zhou on 2025-06-20 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal on 2025-06-17 Henderson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: A. Kauppila on 2025-04-29 Burke Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka and Sally Gewalt on 2025-04-29 Warren Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka and Sally Gewalt on 2025-04-29 Warren Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-28 Wilson Co. Comment: