Native
Argyrotaenia quercifoliana (Fitch) (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Archipini)
Synonyms: trifurculana (Tortrix)
FWLFWL:
forewing length; the distance from the base of the forewing to the apex, including fringe
: 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 costacosta:
the anterior margin of each wing
to dorsumdorsum:
the lower (usually posterior) or inner margin
. Hindwings are white. Males lack a forewing costal foldforewing costal fold:
a flap or fold at the base of the forewing that contains specialized sex scales
.
According to Freeman (1944)Freeman (1944):
Freeman, T. N. 1944. A review of the North American species of the genus Argyrotaenia Stephens (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae). Scientific Agriculture. 25: 81-94., some individuals of A. quercifoliana exhibit a solid patch of light brown on the forewing and resemble A. alisellana.
Male genitalia are characterized by a relatively narrow, finger-like uncusuncus:
a sclerotized process which is fused to the posterodorsal margin of tergum IX
; reduced sociisocii:
a pair of lightly sclerotized setose lobes
; and large, membranous valvaevalva:
an appendage flanking the intromittent organ that is used to clasp the female during copulation
. Female genitalia are characterized by a small sclerotizedsclerotized:
hardened; usually in reference to larval structures or adult genitalia
plate at the base of the ductus bursaeductus bursae:
a membranous tube connecting the ostium bursae to the corpus bursae
; a larger, more conspicious sclerotizedsclerotized:
hardened; usually in reference to larval structures or adult genitalia
patch at the junction of the ductus bursaeductus bursae:
a membranous tube connecting the ostium bursae to the corpus bursae
and corpus bursaecorpus bursae:
a dilated membranous sac at the anterior end of the bursa copulatrix
; and a large, hook-shaped signumsignum:
a sclerotized projection or patch on the interior of the corpus bursae
in the corpus bursaecorpus bursae:
a dilated membranous sac at the anterior end of the bursa copulatrix
with a well-developed capitulumcapitulum:
in reference to the female signum; a knoblike projection
.
No detailed descriptions of larvae of A. quercifoliana exist. The following account is summarized from photos of reared larvae. Chaetotaxychaetotaxy:
the arrangement of setae (in reference to Lepidoptera larvae), often depicted on a "setal map"
is presumed to be similar to other species of Argyrotaenia.
Mature larva 18-22 mm in length; head, prothoracic shieldprothoracic shield:
a sclerotized plate on the dorsal surface of the prothorax
, body; anal plate all entirely yellowish green to green.
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.
Adults are present in May through July. Larvae feed on leaves of oak and various other hosts. Detailed life history information for this species has not been reported.
In addition to oak, Argyrotaenia quercifoliana has been recorded feeding on trees in several other families.
Host plant | Host plant family | Reference(s) |
Acer spicatum | Aceraceae | Prentice 1966Prentice 1966: Prentice, R. M. 1966. Vol. 4. Microlepidoptera. In : Forest Lepidoptera of Canada recorded by the Forest Insect Survey. Dept. For. Canada Publ. 1142: 543-840. |
Rhus sp. | Anacardiaceae | LACM IndexLACM Index: LACM Index. Records from the card file at the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, Los Angeles, California; transcribed by Gaeden Robinson (BMNH). |
Quercus alba | Fagaceae | Prentice 1966Prentice 1966: Prentice, R. M. 1966. Vol. 4. Microlepidoptera. In : Forest Lepidoptera of Canada recorded by the Forest Insect Survey. Dept. For. Canada Publ. 1142: 543-840. |
Quercus sp. | Fagaceae | Forbes 1923Forbes 1923: Forbes, W. M. T. 1923. The Lepidoptera of New York and neighboring states. Primitive forms, Microlepidoptera, Pyraloids, Bombyces. Cornell Univ. Argic. Exp. Sta., Mem. 68. 729 pp.; Freeman 1944Freeman 1944: Freeman, T. N. 1944. A review of the North American species of the genus Argyrotaenia Stephens (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae). Scientific Agriculture. 25: 81-94., 1958; Schaffner 1959Schaffner 1959: Schaffner, J. V. 1959. Microlepidoptera and their parasites reared from field collections in the northeastern United States. USDA, Misc. Publ. 767. 97 pp.; Ferguson 1975Ferguson 1975: Ferguson, D. C. 1975. Host records for Lepidoptera reared in eastern North America. United States Department of Agriculture Technical Bulletin 1521. 49 pp.; Godfrey et al. 1987Godfrey et al. 1987: Godfrey, G. L., Cashatt, E. D., Glenn, M. O. 1987. Microlepidoptera from the Sandy Creek and Illinois River Region: A annotated checklist of the suborders Dacnonypha, Monotrysia, and Ditrysia (in part) (Insecta). Spec. Publ. 7. Illinois Natural History Survey.; Wagner et al. 1995Wagner et al. 1995: Wagner, D. L., Peacock, J. W., Carter, J. L., Talley, S. E. 1995. Spring caterpillar fauna of oak and blueberry in a Virginia deciduous forest. Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 88: 416-426. |
Quercus macrocarpa | Fagaceae | Prentice 1966Prentice 1966: Prentice, R. M. 1966. Vol. 4. Microlepidoptera. In : Forest Lepidoptera of Canada recorded by the Forest Insect Survey. Dept. For. Canada Publ. 1142: 543-840. |
Quercus palustris | Fagaceae | Prentice 1966Prentice 1966: Prentice, R. M. 1966. Vol. 4. Microlepidoptera. In : Forest Lepidoptera of Canada recorded by the Forest Insect Survey. Dept. For. Canada Publ. 1142: 543-840. |
Quercus rubra | Fagaceae | LACM IndexLACM Index: LACM Index. Records from the card file at the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, Los Angeles, California; transcribed by Gaeden Robinson (BMNH).; Prentice 1966Prentice 1966: Prentice, R. M. 1966. Vol. 4. Microlepidoptera. In : Forest Lepidoptera of Canada recorded by the Forest Insect Survey. Dept. For. Canada Publ. 1142: 543-840. |
Quercus velutina | Fagaceae | Godfrey et al. 1987Godfrey et al. 1987: Godfrey, G. L., Cashatt, E. D., Glenn, M. O. 1987. Microlepidoptera from the Sandy Creek and Illinois River Region: A annotated checklist of the suborders Dacnonypha, Monotrysia, and Ditrysia (in part) (Insecta). Spec. Publ. 7. Illinois Natural History Survey. |
Hamamelis virginiana | Hamamelidaceae | Freeman 1944Freeman 1944: Freeman, T. N. 1944. A review of the North American species of the genus Argyrotaenia Stephens (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae). Scientific Agriculture. 25: 81-94. |
Hamamelis sp. | Hamamelidaceae | Freeman 1958Freeman 1958: Freeman, T. N. 1958. The Archipinae of North America (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 7 (Vol. 90): 1-89. |
Rhamnus cathartica | Rhamnaceae | Freeman 1944Freeman 1944: Freeman, T. N. 1944. A review of the North American species of the genus Argyrotaenia Stephens (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae). Scientific Agriculture. 25: 81-94. |
Rhamnus sp. | Rhamnaceae | Forbes 1923Forbes 1923: Forbes, W. M. T. 1923. The Lepidoptera of New York and neighboring states. Primitive forms, Microlepidoptera, Pyraloids, Bombyces. Cornell Univ. Argic. Exp. Sta., Mem. 68. 729 pp.; Freeman 1958Freeman 1958: Freeman, T. N. 1958. The Archipinae of North America (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 7 (Vol. 90): 1-89.; LACM IndexLACM Index: LACM Index. Records from the card file at the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, Los Angeles, California; transcribed by Gaeden Robinson (BMNH). |
Malus sp. | Rosaceae | MacKay 1962aMacKay 1962a: MacKay, M. R. 1962a. Larvae of the North American Tortricinae (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 28: 1-182.; Prentice 1966Prentice 1966: Prentice, R. M. 1966. Vol. 4. Microlepidoptera. In : Forest Lepidoptera of Canada recorded by the Forest Insect Survey. Dept. For. Canada Publ. 1142: 543-840. |
Rubus sp. | Rosaceae | LACM IndexLACM Index: LACM Index. Records from the card file at the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, Los Angeles, California; transcribed by Gaeden Robinson (BMNH). |
View full screen host table here
Argyrotaenia quercifoliana is widely distributed in eastern North America from Minnesota east to Quebec and Nova Scotia and south to eastern Texas and Florida.