Moths of North Carolina
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Sole representative of Drepressariidae in NC
2 NC Records

Agonopterix fusciterminella Clarke, 1941 - No Common Name

No image for this species.
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Gelechioidea Family: DrepressariidaeSubfamily: DepressariinaeTribe: [Depressariini]P3 Number: 59a0082 MONA Number: 870.00
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: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Clarke, 1941.                                                                                  
Adult Markings: The following is based on the original description by Clarke (1941). The antenna is fuscous and faintly and narrowly annulated with ochreous. The labial palp has a well developed brush, and the terminal segment has a black subbasal and supramedial annuli and a black tip. The face and head are whitish ochreous, with the latter intermixed with brownish scales. The thorax is whitish ochreous and the posterior half has two crests of raised scales. The forewing has an ochreous ground color that is strongly overlaid with reddish brown and liberally sprinkled with fuscous to black scales. The extreme base is ochreous, followed in the dorsal half by a strong red-brown patch. At the base of the cell there are two small obliquely placed black spots that are followed by a strong fuscous or black cloud that is surrounded by a reddish-brown suffusion. At the end of cell there is another small black spot. The costa and termen have conspicuous black spots, and the cilia is ochreous with brown scales intermixed that produces a rosy tinge. The hindwing is whitish and strongly suffused apically with fuscous. The scales at the base of cilia, along the termen, and frequently around the posterior margin are black. The legs are ochreous, and the anterior surface of the tibia of the front leg is bright pink with overlying brownish scales. The tarsi is broadly edged with fuscous. The middle leg is similar but without the fuscous femora, and with more fuscous on the tibia and tarsus. The hind leg is almost wholly whitish ochreous except for a delicate pink suffusion on the tibia and fuscous tibial spurs. This is a distinctive species that can be distinguished by the yellowish brown forewing, the three dark discal spots, the reddish brown blotch near the mid-wing, and the conspicuous black spots along the costa and termen.
Wingspan: 22-25 mm (Clarke, 1941)
Forewing Length: 8.5-10.5 mm (hodges, 1974)
Adult Structural Features: Clarke (1941) provides detailed descriptions and illustrations of the male and female genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae in California feed on plant leaves that are webbed together. They also occasionally feed on flowers. The larvae are on plants in April, and the adults emerged a month or more later (Hodges, 1974). We do not have information of the larval life history of southern Appalachian populations.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: This species is primarily found in western North America, including British Columbia, Alberta,Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Washington, and California. Populations also occur in both eastern Tennessee and North Carolina. Our only records are from Purchase Knob in the Smokies where two specimens were collected in 2002.
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 flight season is poorly documented in the southern Appalachians due to the scarcity of records. The two specimens from Purchase Knob were both collected in June.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The preferred habitats and hosts of southern Appalachian populations are unknown.
Larval Host Plants: Populations in the western US use a member of the Boraginaceae (Cynoglossum grande) and two composites (Cacaliopsis nardosmia and Senecio aronicoides; Robinson et al., 2010). The hosts for southern Appalachian populations are undocumented.
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to UV-lights.
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: As of 2020, the only known locality of this primarily western species is from Purchase Knob in the Great Smoky Mountains.