Moths of North Carolina
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53 NC Records

Agonopterix pulvipennella (Clemens, 1864) - Goldenrod Leaffolder Moth

Agonopterix pulvipennellaAgonopterix pulvipennella
view caption 		Agonopterix pulvipennellaAgonopterix pulvipennella
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Gelechioidea Family: DepressariidaeSubfamily: DepressariinaeTribe: [Depressariini]P3 Number: 59a0079 MONA Number: 867.00
Comments: Agonopterix is a large holarctic genus with more than 125 species, with most occurring in the Palearctic Region. Currently, there are 47 recognized species in North America. Our species are largely confined to the western mountains.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes, 1923; Clarke, 1941.Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1923)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following is primarily based on descriptions in Forbes (1923) and Clarke (1941). The face is whitish and the vertex is rose-brown. The labial palp is whitish ochreous tinged with pink, and the second segment is irrorated with blackish fuscous exteriorly. The third segment has a black tip and a black ring on the basal and subapical portions. The antenna is fuscous. The forewing has a light brown to brownish tan ground color with small dark spots and flecks scattered throughout. The thorax and base of the forewing are mottled with tan, whitish and brownish scales that produces a diffuse light band behind the head that extends along the costa to about one-fifth the wing length. Immediately adjoining this is a dark patch of scales that fades posteriorly and does not reach the costa. Discal dots 'a' and 'b' are black, while 'd' has a white center and 'c' is obliterated (Forbes, 1923). The most conspicuous mark is a dark brown blotch near the middle of wing with a white dot (discal dot d) on the lower edge. The blotch varies in shape and size, but often resembles a blurred "V" or "W". Additional blurred dark streaking often extends longitudinally from the white dot towards the costa and apex. The costal margin has a series of alternating dark and light bars along much of its length that continues along the termen as a series of dark dots. The fringe is reddish. The hindwing is light fuscous, and the cilia somewhat lighter with a dark basal band. The legs are whitish-ochreous and suffused and mottled with blackish fuscous except at the joints.
Wingspan: 22 mm (Forbes, 1923)
Forewing Length: 8.0-10.5 mm (Hodges, 1974)
Adult Structural Features: Clarke (1941) has detailed descriptions and illustrations of the male and female genitalia. In the female the anterior margin of the eighth abdominal sternum is V-shaped with a slender, medial sinus that may extend to half the length of the sternum. This anterior emargination varies from 1/4 to 1/2 the length of the eighth abdominal sternum (Hodges, 1974).
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larvae fold the leaves of goldenrods or other host plants lengthwise and feed on the tissues from the inside. The larva is greenish overall and sometimes has darker dorsal and lateral lines. The tubercles, head, and cervical shield are nearly concolorous. The head is marked with brown and the cervical shield has lateral brown dots (Forbes, 1923).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Agonopterix pulvipennella is primarily found in the eastern North America, but disjunct populations occur in western Canada, Colorado, and Mexico. In the east, populations have been found throughout most of southern Canada and adjoining areas of the northeastern US, westward to Wisconsin and Minnesota. The range extends as far south as Texas, Alabama, and Georgia. This species appears to be absent from or rare in many areas of the southeastern Coastal Plain and Piedmont. As of 2020, our records are from the 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 recorded during most months of the year. Overwintering adults become active with the spring warm-up. Peak activity occurs between March and May when breeding presumably occurs. Some populations may have a second summer brood (Forbes, 1923). In North Carolina, the peak activity is in March, with scattered records occurring throughout the remainder of the year.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: This species uses hosts that are generally associated with open, sunny habitats such as roadsides, abandoned fields, meadows, forest edges and open woods.
Larval Host Plants: The specific hosts are rather poorly documented. According to Hodges (1974) and Forbes (1923), they include goldenrods (Solidago spp.), nettles (Urtica spp.) and thoroughworts (Eupatorium spp.). - View
Observation Methods: Most records are for adults at lights. Additional information is needed on the larval host plants, so we encourage searching for the caterpillars.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR SU
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: We currently do not have sufficient information on the distribution and abundance of this species within the state to accurately assess its conservation status.

 Photo Gallery for Agonopterix pulvipennella - Goldenrod Leaffolder Moth

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

Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-02-26
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-03-23
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-03-06
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2023-03-01
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-02-28
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-02-22
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2022-03-15
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-03-04
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-03-03
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-10-14
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2021-05-19
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-05-16
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-04-09
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-03-23
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2021-03-11
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-03-11
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-03-09
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-03-27
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-03-18
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-03-09
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-03-09
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: on 2019-12-16
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-10-29
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-10-29
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-10-07
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-09-08
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2019-07-15
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-03-29
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-03-14
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-03-10
Madison Co.
Comment: