Moths of North Carolina
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27 NC Records

Archips grisea (Robinson, 1869) - Gray Archips Moth


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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tortricoidea Family: TortricidaeSubfamily: TortricinaeTribe: ArchipiniP3 Number: 620333.00 MONA Number: 3660.00
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.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Freeman (1958)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This species is sexually dimorphic, with the females larger and with many of the darker markings on the male forewing obsolete or missing. The following is based mostly of the descriptions by Forbes (1923) and Freeman (1958). For males, the head, palps, and thorax are grayish to pinkish-gray. The ground color of the forewing is dull pinkish white to grayish white with a heavy dull gray overwash that produces an overall gray appearance. The forewing ground is overlain by several darker marks that are margined with light gray. The first is a short, posteriorly oblique, dark-brown or blackish spur that extends from near the base of the inner margin to the middle of the wing at the basal one-third. Just beyond the tip of the spur there is a curved or irregularly shaped median band that begins inward from the costa and slants posteriorly to the inner margin. The band is noticeably darker on the anterior third or half and frequently has a narrow, curved, dark spur that projects posteriorly. Beyond the median band is a distinct, dark brown, semi-oval costal patch with a tiny dark spot immediately behind it. The final mark is a narrow, dark-brown, curved streak that extends from near the tornus towards the semi-oval costal patch. It terminates before reaching the patch. The apical fifth of the wing is light gray and has a series of fine dark striations that are often more prominent towards the apex. The fringe is gray, and the hindwing is uniformly fuscous with a whitish fringe and dark basal line.

The females are generally similar in being grayish overall, but the darker marks of the forewing are mostly obsolete or missing. The spur at the wing base is missing and the median band is replaced by a short, interrupted, posteriorly oblique band that terminates near the middle of the wing. The band is often represented by two squarish or rectangular marks that are separated by a gap -- with one on the costa and the second inward from the first. The subapical costal patch is similar to that of the male, and the curved streak that extends from near the tornus is often missing. The male markings are similar to those of Archips magnoliana, but the forewing is grayish overall versus being reddish tan to reddish brown. The males of both species have a prominent costal fold along the basal third of the wing, with that of A. magnoliana being salmon-colored versus dull gray in A. grisea.
Wingspan: 19-19.5 mm for males and 24-25 mm for females (Freeman, 1958).
Adult Structural Features: Freeman (1958) has illustrations of the male and female genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Chapman and Lienk (1971) studied this species in apple orchards in New York and reported that the larval life history is essentially identical to that of syntopic A. argyrospila. Local populations are univoltine and females that emerge and mate in the summer lay masses of eggs on small diameter branches. Overwintering occurs in the egg stage and hatching occurs in the spring. The hatchlings first consume the flower buds and opening flowers. After the second or third molt they switch to feeding on young leaves and developing fruits. The later instars feed mostly within leaves that are rolled, tied, or curled and held together with silk. Pupation typically occurs within the bound leaves, and the adults emerge in about two weeks. The later instars are dull green with a black head capsule and prothoracic shield.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Archips grisea occurs throughout most of the eastern US and in adjoining areas in Ontario and Quebec. In the US the range extends from Maine to central Florida and westward to central Texas, central Oklahoma, Missouri, Iowa, and Minnesota. In North Carolina this species occurs statewide or essentially so.
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 observed from March through August in different areas of the range, with the great majority flying from April through July. As of 2023, our records extend from late April through early June in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont. Our two Blue Ridge records are from late May and early June.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Local populations are generally associated with hardwood or mix conifer-hardwood forests. We have records from bottomland and mesic forests and semi-wooded residential neighborhoods.
Larval Host Plants: The larvae are polyphagous (Forbes, 1923; Freeman, 1958; Wagner et al., 1995; Brown et al., 2008; Robinson et al., 2010), with oaks perhaps being the most important hosts. The reported hosts include hickories (Carya), hawthorns (Crataegus), domesticated apples (Malus domestica), Mexican Plum (Prunus mexicana), pears (Pyrus), Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea), Northern Red Oak (Q. rubra) and coneflowers (Rudbeckia). - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.
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 appears to be somewhat common in the state, but more information is needed on its host use, distribution and abundance before we can accurately assess its conservation status.

 Photo Gallery for Archips grisea - Gray Archips Moth

Photos: 25

Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Erich Hofmann, Jesse Anderson on 2023-05-22
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2023-05-21
New Hanover Co.
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Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2023-05-10
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-05-08
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-05-08
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-05-06
Davidson Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2022-05-15
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2022-05-15
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: Erich Hofmann on 2022-04-29
Columbus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Erich Hofmann on 2022-04-29
Columbus Co.
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Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2021-06-01
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2021-05-06
Onslow Co.
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Recorded by: Erich Hofmann on 2021-04-30
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2020-05-19
Cabarrus Co.
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Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2020-05-16
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Erich Hofmann on 2020-05-16
Craven Co.
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Recorded by: Erich Hofmann on 2020-05-16
Craven Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-05-16
Onslow Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-05-02
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Morgan Freese on 2020-04-26
New Hanover Co.
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Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2019-05-14
Cumberland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2019-05-14
Cumberland Co.
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Recorded by: Robert Gilson on 2016-05-10
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2015-05-26
Cabarrus Co.
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Recorded by: Lenny Lampel on 2013-05-30
Mecklenburg Co.
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