Moths of North Carolina

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Ancylis divisana (Walker, 1863) - Two-toned Ancylis

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Tortricoidea

Family:
Tortricidae

Subfamily:
Olethreutinae

Tribe:
Enarmoniini

P3 Number:
51a0663

MONA Number:
3375.00

Comments: The genus Ancylis contains around 130 described species that occur worldwide. The exact number of species in North America is uncertain due to several unresolved species complexes, but is around 35 species.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

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

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1923)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Marquis et al. (2019)

Adult Markings: The following description is based in part on that of Forbes (1923). The head and palps vary from dull white to orangish-white and the antenna is reddish-brown and paler near the base. The thorax is mostly a deep reddish-brown, but may have some pale orangish coloration on the anterior half. The forewing has a pale orangish to light orangish-brown ground color and is overlain with a prominent basal patch that covers a third or more of the wing. The patch is deep reddish-brown dorsally and grades into violet-gray toward the costa. It has a thin whitish line on the distal margin that is followed by another zone of violet-gray that is continuous with that along the basal half of the costa. The apical half of the forewing is pale orangish dorsally and tends to phase into dull orange or light orangish-brown towards the costa. The costa is finely striated with gray towards the apex, with a couple of white striae close to the apex. The fringe is pale brown and a thin black line runs along the termen from below the apex to near the middle. The hindwing is pale grayish brown. The overall two-toned appearance of this species make it difficult to confused with any of our other Ancylis species.

Wingspan: 12-15 mm (Forbes, 1923) is

Adult Structural Features: Gilligan et al. (2008) have illustrations of the male and female genitalia. They note that in the male the anal angle of the cucullus is strongly developed and the socii are greatly reduced.

Structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: The larvae are leaf-folders that fold a portion or all of a leaf lengthwise and bind the edges with silk (Marquis et al., 2019). They then skeletonize the leaf tissue from within. The mature larvae has a pale yellow head with two pairs of black spots. All of the thoracic segments have a subdorsal black spot. The abdomen is grayish green with pale pinacula, and anal shield is unmarked.

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: This species is largely restricted to eastern North America, including much of the eastern US and adjoining portions of southern Canada (Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island). In the US the range extends from Maine southward to southern Florida, and westward to central Texas, central Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Apparent western disjuncts have been reported from Colorado and Alberta. This species 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: The adults fly from January through October in Florida, and mostly from April through September at more northern latitudes. As of 2023, our records extend from early April through mid-September. Local populations appear to have two generations in the Blue Ridge and two or three generations in the Piedmont.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Populations are associated with hardwood or mixed hardwood-conifer forests that support oaks and sycamores. These include alluvial and bottomland sites as well as more mesic to somewhat drier forested sites.

Larval Host Plants: The known hosts include several species of oaks and American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) (Marquis et al., 2019; Robinson et al., 2010; BugGuide). Oaks that are used include White Oak (Quercus alba), Swamp White Oak (Q. bicolor), Scarlet Oak (Q. coccinea), Pin Oak (Q. palustris), and Northern Red Oak (Q. rubra). As of 2023, we only have host records for American Sycamore. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and the larvae can be found on sycamores and oaks.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S4S5

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

Comments: This species is widespread and relatively common in the state and appears to be secure.

Photo Gallery for Ancylis divisana - Two-toned Ancylis			107 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-21 Wilson Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-21 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-05-16 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-04-05 Chatham Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, Larry Chen on 2024-09-23 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2024-09-07 Alamance Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Lenny Lampel on 2024-08-29 Union Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-08 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Kevin Bischof on 2024-08-07 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Patrick Coin, Steve Hall, Carol Tingley, Tom Howard on 2024-07-27 Chatham Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-26 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-07-16 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-08 Chatham Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Maurice Cullen, Todd Pusser, F. Williams, S. Williams on 2024-07-08 Gates Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Patrick Coin on 2024-06-22 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-19 Brunswick Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-19 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-28 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-20 Madison Co. Comment:	Recorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2024-05-13 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-07 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2024-04-29 Chatham Co. Comment:	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-09-07 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-09-04 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-08-22 Madison Co. Comment:	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-08-18 Caswell Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-08-05 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka, David George on 2023-08-05 Orange Co. Comment:	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-31 Swain Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-30 Swain Co. Comment:

Ancylis divisana (Walker, 1863) - Two-toned Ancylis

Photo Gallery for Ancylis divisana - Two-toned Ancylis