Moths of North Carolina
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6 NC Records

Olethreutes corylana (Fernald, 1882) - Hazel Olethreutes

Olethreutes corylanaOlethreutes corylanaOlethreutes corylana
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Tortricoidea		 Family:
Tortricidae		Subfamily:
Olethreutinae		Tribe:
Olethreutini		P3 Number:
51a0573		 MONA Number:
2805.00
Comments: Olethreutes is a large genus with over 130 recognized species worldwide. North America has around 80 recognized species, with at least 37 species occurring in North Carolina. Some species are very difficult to identify due to interspecific similarities in color and forewing pattern and only subtle differences in genitalia (Gilligan et al., 2008). In many instances, knowledge of the host plant is essential for a confident determination. All of the Nearctic species are leaf-tiers or leaf-rollers on deciduous trees and shrubs.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This species lacks some of the typical forewing marks of many Olethreutes and is best distinguished by its rosy-reddish scales that are restricted to the terminal fringe. Specimen typically have an overall light tan coloration that is overlain with darker markings and blackish dusting. The palps are mostly dull white with a black terminal segment and a bit of darker dusting on the terminus of the second segment. The head tuft is tan with darker scaling, while the thorax is tan with a black horizontal line and a dark scale tuft.

The forewing ground consists of pale or light tan scales with fine, dark gray or blackish striations and blackish dusting. It is overlain with rather faint, darker patches that tend towards olive-brown, with darker dusting within. The forewing lacks many of the marks that are commonly seen on Olethreutes species, with the intact medial band replaced by less-defined patches. An oblique pale-whitish or tan streak extends from the subapical region along the costa to the inner margin on the basal third of the wing. A dull, outwardly oblique and diffuse olivaceous patch or area of heavy dark dusting parallels the basal margin of the light streak and may extend all the way to the middle of the costa where there is a small quadrate dark patch on the costa. The area posterior to the light streak has three rather faint patches that include an olivaceous patch with darker dusting near the middle of the inner margin, a similar subtornal patch beyond this, and an elongated postmedial bar that begins near the end of the light streak and projects towards the middle of the outer margin. The fringe is suffused with reddish scales and has a thin dark basal line. Patches are dark scales often mask the reddish fringe near the middle and at the apex. The apical half of the costal has four or five pairs of tan dashes, with connected stigulae that project towards the apical third of the outer margin. The hindwing is smoky brown with a whitish fringe and a narrow, darker basal band.

Olethreutes corylana generally resembles O. merrickana and O. hamameliana, but O. corylana is considerably smaller, is dull olive-green overall, and has reddish scales confined to the fringe on the forewing.

Forewing Length: 7.0-8.5 mm (Gilligan et al., 2008).
Adult Structural Features: Gilligan et al. (2008) have illustrations of the male and female genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larvae feed on hazelnuts, but details of the life history are undocumented.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Olethreutes corylana is endemic to eastern North America where it occurs in Canada from Manitoba and Ontario eastward to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and in the US from Massachusetts and Connecticut westward to Illinois and Wisconsin, and southward to Kentucky, Tennessee, northern Alabama, Virginia and North Carolina. As of 2024, all of our records are from the Piedmont and lower-elevations in the Blue Ridge.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Olethreutes corylana
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 found from May through August in different areas of the range, with a seasonal peak in June. As of 2024, our records range from early-July through early-September.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our sites for this species include both riparian and upland forest habitats.
Larval Host Plants: The larvae feed on hazelnuts (Fernald, 1882; Forbes, 1923; Heinrich, 1926; Prentice, 1965; Lam et al., 2011), with American Hazelnut (Corylus americana) being the only listed species. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights. More information is needed on host use and the larval life history from North Carolina and elsewhere.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Corylaceous Thickets and Understories
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S1S3
State Protection:
Comments: This species appears to be uncommon throughout its range, including in North Carolina.

 Photo Gallery for Olethreutes corylana - Hazel Olethreutes

Photos: 3

Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-02
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2021-09-04
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger on 2013-07-31
Orange Co.
Comment: