Adult Recognition
FWL: 7.5-9.5 mm (male); 9.0-11.5 mm (female)
Forewings are pale yellow with brown to light-brown reticulated markings. Most specimens have two brown fascial remnants that form parallel lines from costa to dorsum. Hindwings are white. Males lack a forewing costal fold.
Adults of Argyrotaenia quadrifasciana may appear similar to those of A. quercifoliana. The two species can be distinguished by forewing color: bright yellow in A. quadrifasciana versus pale yellow in A. quercifoliana. In addition, the hindwings of A. quercifoliana are white, while those of A. quadrifasciana are dark brown or golden brown.
According to Freeman (1944), some individuals of A. quercifoliana exhibit a solid patch of light brown on the forewing and resemble A. alisellana.
Biology
Adults are present in May through July. Larvae feed on leaves of oak and various other hosts. Full life history information for this species has not been reported.
Host plants
In addition to oak, Argyrotaenia quercifoliana has been recorded feeding on trees in several other families.
Family | Genus/species | Common name |
Aceraceae | Acer spicatum Lam. | mountain maple |
Anacardiaceae | Rhus L. | sumac |
Fagaceae | Quercus alba L. | white oak |
Fagaceae | Quercus macrocarpa Michx. | bur oak |
Fagaceae | Quercus palustris Munchh. | pin oak |
Fagaceae | Quercus rubra L. | red oak |
Fagaceae | Quercus velutina Lam. | black oak |
Fagaceae | Quercus L. | oak |
Hamamelidaceae | Hamamelis virginiana L. | American witchhazel |
Hamamelidaceae | Hamamelis L. | witchhazel |
Rhamnaceae | Rhamnus cathartica L. | common buckthorn |
Rhamnaceae | Rhamnus L. | buckthorn |
Rosaceae | Malus Mill. | apple |
Rosaceae | Rubus L. | blackberry |
Distribution
Argyrotaenia quercifoliana is widely distributed in eastern North America from southern Canada to Florida.
References
Freeman, T. N. 1944. A review of the North American species of the genus Argyrotaenia Stephens (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae). Scientific Agriculture. 25: 81-94.
Freeman, T. N. 1958. The Archipinae of North America (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). The Canadian Entomologist Supplement 7 (Vol. 90): 1-89.