Moths of North Carolina
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Archips Members:
17 NC Records

Archips rileyana (Grote, 1868) - Southern Ugly-nest Caterpillar Moth


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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tortricoidea Family: TortricidaeSubfamily: TortricinaeTribe: ArchipiniP3 Number: 620337.00 MONA Number: 3662.00
Comments: Archips is a large genus with species occurring worldwide. Most are found in Holarctic and temperate regions and they are well-represented in the Old World. North America has 26 species, including a few that are introduced.
Species Status: Freeman (1958) treated this as a southern subspecies of A. carasivoranus based on the fact that the genitalia of the two species are very similar. Recent accounts consider this form to be a full species based on molecular evidence (Kruse and Sperling, 2002).
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Freeman (1958)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Tyler (2018)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following is based primarily on the descriptions by Freeman (1958). The head, palps, antenna, thorax and ground color of the forewing are light yellowish-brown. The ground color of the forewing is overlain with several small dark spots that are somewhat variable. The most prominent are a costal spot near the middle and a second one at around four-fifths. The basal region usually has one or two small circular spots, and there are often two small spots in the subdorsal region of the middle of the wing. Just below the outer margin there is a row of small spots that begin below the costa and gently curve towards the tornus. They terminate before reaching the tornus. Archips cerasivorana is similar but typically has larger spots that are more diffuse, and lacks the row of small spots below the outer margin.
Wingspan: 20-28 mm (Forbes, 1923).
Adult Structural Features: Freeman (1958) noted that the genitalia are similar to those of Archips cerasivorana.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larvae are communal feeders that construct bulky nests that are similar to those of Archips cerasivorana. The young larvae bind the leaves of buckeyes or other hosts together with dense webbing and feed on them. With time they bind and incorporate additional leaves into the nest, which can envelop entire branches (Tyler, 2018). Pupation occurs within the nest, and the adults emerge within two weeks or so after pupating. A nest will often contain dozens of larvae and is often riddled with pupal cases on the outside after the adults emerge. The late-instar larvae are dull yellowish-green with a black head capsule, thoracic shield, and anal plate. The body segments are prominently marked with a series of black spots. Overwintering presumably occurs in the egg stage, but this needs verification.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Archips rileyana is found primarily in the southeastern US, with the range extending from central Texas, central Oklahoma, and Kansas eastward to Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle. As of 2023, we have numerous records from the Blue Ridge, and two from the Coastal Plain in Pender County.
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 have been observed from March through July in different areas of the range, with most records from May through July. As of 2023, our records extend from mid-May to mid-July.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Larval Host Plants: The larvae are polyphagous and feed on several taxonomically diverse hosts, with buckeyes (Aesculus) appearing to be one of the most important host taxa (Kearfott, 1907; Forbes, 1923; Freeman, 1958; Heppner, 2007). The reported hosts include Yellow Buckeye (A. flava), Ohio Buckeye (A. glabra), Horse Chestnut (A. hippocastanum) Red Buckeye (A. pavia), hickories (Carya), Chestnuts (Castanea), dogwoods (Cornus), walnuts (Juglans), cherries (Prunus), oaks (Quercus), coralberries (Symphoricarpos), and ironweeds (Vernonia). Kearfott (1907) reported them feeding on Horse Chestnut near Black Mountain, North Carolina. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and the bulky nests can be found on buckeyes and other hosts.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S3S4]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: Populations appear to be somewhat localized, with adults often locally common.

 Photo Gallery for Archips rileyana - Southern Ugly-nest Caterpillar Moth

Photos: 7

Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-06-24
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-06-29
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-05-31
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jimena Golcher-Benavides on 2022-04-14
Pender Co.
Comment: iNaturalist: Photo 188354670 nest with numerous caterpillars
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-07-06
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-06-15
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Doug Blatny/Jackie Nelson on 2012-06-01
Ashe Co.
Comment: