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Episimus argutana

Type

Native

Taxonomy

Episimus argutana (Clemens) (Tortricidae: Olethreutinae: Olethreutini)

Common names: sumac leaftier moth

Synonyms: allutana (Grapholitha), hamameliella (Catastega)

Adult Recognition

FWL: 4.5-6.0 mm (males); 5.0-7.0 mm (females)

Head, thorax intermixed with red-orange, chalky blue, and pale yellow scales; forewing heavily mottledmottled:
having spots or blotches of color
 with pale yellow, red-orange, black, and chalky blue scaling; ocellusocellus:
forewing pattern element - an ovoid region anterior to the tornus; adult head - a simple insect "eye" located dorsal to the compound eye
well-developed and represented by elongate black dots; costal strigulaecostal strigulae:
small, usually pale, semirectangular marks along the costa
present as small white paired lines, often filled or suffused with chalky blue scaling; fringe bicolored: gray on apical half, pale yellow on tornal half; male without forewing costal foldforewing costal fold:
a flap or fold at the base of the forewing that contains specialized sex scales
; hindwing brown.

Male genitalia are characterized by a narrow, pointed uncusuncus:
a sclerotized process which is fused to the posterodorsal margin of tergum IX
; long, narrow valvaevalvae:
plural of "valva"
 with a ventralventral:
lower, to the bottom, on the under side
 lobe at the distaldistal:
farthest from body, distant from point of attachment
 end of the sacculussacculus:
the ventral margin of the male valva
; and a poorly differentiated cuculluscucullus:
the distal portion of the male valva
. Female genitalia are characterized by a moderate, quadrate signumsignum:
a sclerotized projection or patch on the interior of the corpus bursae
; a minute ring of sclerites present at the base of the corpus bursaecorpus bursae:
a dilated membranous sac at the anterior end of the bursa copulatrix
; and two small, thorn-like signasigna:
plural of "signum"
.

Larval Morphology

The following account is summarized from MacKay (1959)MacKay (1959):
MacKay, M. R. 1959. Larvae of the North American Olethreutidae (Lepidoptera). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 10: 1-338..

Mature larvae 10-12 mm in length; width of head approximately 0.9 mm; head pale, with darker laterallateral:
to the side
 pigmentation; prothoracic shieldprothoracic shield:
a sclerotized plate on the dorsal surface of the prothorax
, legs, body, and anal shieldanal shield:
a sclerotized plate on the dorsal surface of the last abdominal segment (in larvae)
pale yellow; body sometimes with faint reddish pigmentation; anal fork present, poorly developed; SV group on A1, 2, 7, 8, 9 usually 3:3:3:2:2.

A complete description of larval chaetotaxychaetotaxy:
the arrangement of setae (in reference to Lepidoptera larvae), often depicted on a "setal map"
 is a available in MacKay (1959)MacKay (1959):
MacKay, M. R. 1959. Larvae of the North American Olethreutidae (Lepidoptera). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 10: 1-338..

Similar Species

Several species of Episimus are similar to E. argutana, but only other widespread species in North America is E. tyrius Heinrich, which primarily feeds on maple (Acer spp.). It can be identified by its reddish-purple forewing coloration and narrower cuculluscucullus:
the distal portion of the male valva
 in the male genitalia compared to E. argutana.

Biology

Little is known about the biology of E. argutana beyond host records. Larvae tend to twist or fold a single leaf of a young hostplant leaf and feed by skeletonizing the leaf while living in the folded shelter. Adults can be found nearly year-round in the southernmost portion of its range, but have a more restricted flight period (May to September further north). There are at least two generations per year in the north, and three or more in Florida and Texas.

The preferred host appears to be members of the Anacardiaceae, especially sumac (Rhus spp.) and poison ivy (Toxicodendron spp.), but E. argutana is also commonly reared from witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana). Other host records are known, but several of these are dubious and require verification (i.e., Alnus, Betulus, Crataegus, Sambucus, Solidago).

Host plant Host plant family Reference(s)
Rhus copallinum Anacardiaceae Heppner 1994Heppner 1994:
Heppner, J. B. 1994. Episimus moths of North America (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Holarctic Lepidoptera. 1: 83-107.
Rhus cotinoides Anacardiaceae Heppner 1994Heppner 1994:
Heppner, J. B. 1994. Episimus moths of North America (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Holarctic Lepidoptera. 1: 83-107.
Rhus glabra Anacardiaceae Heppner 1994Heppner 1994:
Heppner, J. B. 1994. Episimus moths of North America (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Holarctic Lepidoptera. 1: 83-107.
Rhus obovatus Anacardiaceae Heppner 1994Heppner 1994:
Heppner, J. B. 1994. Episimus moths of North America (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Holarctic Lepidoptera. 1: 83-107.
Rhus sp. Anacardiaceae Kearfott 1904Kearfott 1904:
Kearfott, W. D. 1904. North America Tortricidae. Transactions of the American Entomological Society. 30: 287-299.; Heinrich 1926Heinrich 1926:
Heinrich, C. 1926. Revision of the North American moths of the subfamilies Laspeyresiinae and Olethreutinae. Bulletin of the United States National Museum. 132: 1-216.; 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.; MacKay 1959MacKay 1959:
MacKay, M. R. 1959. Larvae of the North American Olethreutidae (Lepidoptera). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 10: 1-338.; Kimball 1965Kimball 1965:
Kimball, C. P. 1965. The Lepidoptera of Florida: an annotated checklist. In : Arthropods of Florida and neighboring land areas, vol. 1. Florida Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry, Gainesville. 363 pp.; 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.; Jubb 1973Jubb 1973:
Jubb, G.L. 1973. Catches of Episimus argutanus in grape berry moth sex-pheromone traps in Pennsylvania. Journal of Economic Entomology. 66: 1345-1346.; Miller 1987aMiller 1987a:
Miller, W. E. 1987a. Guide to the Olethreutine moths of midland North America (Tortricidae). USDA Forest Service Agriculture Handbook 660: 1-104.; 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.; Heppner 1994Heppner 1994:
Heppner, J. B. 1994. Episimus moths of North America (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Holarctic Lepidoptera. 1: 83-107.
Toxicodendron diversilobum Anacardiaceae Heppner 1994Heppner 1994:
Heppner, J. B. 1994. Episimus moths of North America (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Holarctic Lepidoptera. 1: 83-107.; Powell 2006Powell 2006:
Powell, J. A. 2006. Database of Lepidoptera rearing lots, 1960-2005. University of California Berkeley, CA.; USNM collectionUSNM collection:
USNM collection. Based on identified reared specimens in the collection of the National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C.
Toxicodendron pubescens Anacardiaceae Heppner 1994Heppner 1994:
Heppner, J. B. 1994. Episimus moths of North America (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Holarctic Lepidoptera. 1: 83-107.
Toxicodendron radicans Anacardiaceae 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.; Heppner 1994Heppner 1994:
Heppner, J. B. 1994. Episimus moths of North America (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Holarctic Lepidoptera. 1: 83-107.
Ambrosia trifida Asteraceae 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.; Heppner 1994Heppner 1994:
Heppner, J. B. 1994. Episimus moths of North America (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Holarctic Lepidoptera. 1: 83-107.
Solidago sp. Asteraceae Heinrich 1926Heinrich 1926:
Heinrich, C. 1926. Revision of the North American moths of the subfamilies Laspeyresiinae and Olethreutinae. Bulletin of the United States National Museum. 132: 1-216.; Kimball 1965Kimball 1965:
Kimball, C. P. 1965. The Lepidoptera of Florida: an annotated checklist. In : Arthropods of Florida and neighboring land areas, vol. 1. Florida Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry, Gainesville. 363 pp.; Heppner 1994Heppner 1994:
Heppner, J. B. 1994. Episimus moths of North America (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Holarctic Lepidoptera. 1: 83-107.
Alnus sp. Betulaceae 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.; Heppner 1994Heppner 1994:
Heppner, J. B. 1994. Episimus moths of North America (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Holarctic Lepidoptera. 1: 83-107.
Sambucus sp. Caprifoliaceae 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.; Heppner 1994Heppner 1994:
Heppner, J. B. 1994. Episimus moths of North America (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Holarctic Lepidoptera. 1: 83-107.
Nyssa multiflora Cornaceae Heppner 1994Heppner 1994:
Heppner, J. B. 1994. Episimus moths of North America (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Holarctic Lepidoptera. 1: 83-107.
Arctostaphylos pumila Ericaceae Heppner 1994Heppner 1994:
Heppner, J. B. 1994. Episimus moths of North America (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Holarctic Lepidoptera. 1: 83-107.
Euphorbia cyathophora Euphorbiaceae Heppner 1994Heppner 1994:
Heppner, J. B. 1994. Episimus moths of North America (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Holarctic Lepidoptera. 1: 83-107.
Euphorbia heterophylla Euphorbiaceae Heinrich 1926Heinrich 1926:
Heinrich, C. 1926. Revision of the North American moths of the subfamilies Laspeyresiinae and Olethreutinae. Bulletin of the United States National Museum. 132: 1-216.; Kimball 1965Kimball 1965:
Kimball, C. P. 1965. The Lepidoptera of Florida: an annotated checklist. In : Arthropods of Florida and neighboring land areas, vol. 1. Florida Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry, Gainesville. 363 pp.; Heppner 1994Heppner 1994:
Heppner, J. B. 1994. Episimus moths of North America (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Holarctic Lepidoptera. 1: 83-107.
Euphorbia sp. Euphorbiaceae Miller 1987aMiller 1987a:
Miller, W. E. 1987a. Guide to the Olethreutine moths of midland North America (Tortricidae). USDA Forest Service Agriculture Handbook 660: 1-104.
Hamamelis virginiana Hamamelidaceae 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.; Heppner 1994Heppner 1994:
Heppner, J. B. 1994. Episimus moths of North America (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Holarctic Lepidoptera. 1: 83-107.
Hamamelis sp. Hamamelidaceae Heinrich 1926Heinrich 1926:
Heinrich, C. 1926. Revision of the North American moths of the subfamilies Laspeyresiinae and Olethreutinae. Bulletin of the United States National Museum. 132: 1-216.; Kimball & Jones 1943; Kimball 1965Kimball 1965:
Kimball, C. P. 1965. The Lepidoptera of Florida: an annotated checklist. In : Arthropods of Florida and neighboring land areas, vol. 1. Florida Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry, Gainesville. 363 pp.; Jubb 1973Jubb 1973:
Jubb, G.L. 1973. Catches of Episimus argutanus in grape berry moth sex-pheromone traps in Pennsylvania. Journal of Economic Entomology. 66: 1345-1346.; Miller 1987aMiller 1987a:
Miller, W. E. 1987a. Guide to the Olethreutine moths of midland North America (Tortricidae). USDA Forest Service Agriculture Handbook 660: 1-104.
Crataegus sp. Rosaceae Heinrich 1926Heinrich 1926:
Heinrich, C. 1926. Revision of the North American moths of the subfamilies Laspeyresiinae and Olethreutinae. Bulletin of the United States National Museum. 132: 1-216.; Kimball 1965Kimball 1965:
Kimball, C. P. 1965. The Lepidoptera of Florida: an annotated checklist. In : Arthropods of Florida and neighboring land areas, vol. 1. Florida Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry, Gainesville. 363 pp.
Ulmus sp.Host plant table (embedded)

View full screen host table here

Distribution

Episimus argutana is broadly distributed in North America, from Nova Scotia to British Columbia and south to Florida, Texas, and southern California. It is apparently absent from the Rocky Mountains. No records of this species are known from Mexico, although there are several similar species which do occur there.

Links

Additional photos and a distribution map of this species in North America are available at Moth Photographers Group.
Male. © John W. Brown. Image used with permission.
Male. © John W. Brown. Image used with permission.
Male. © John W. Brown. Image used with permission.
Male. © John W. Brown. Image used with permission.
Female. © John W. Brown. Image used with permission.
Female. © John W. Brown. Image used with permission.
Male genitalia. © JoAnne Russo. Photo used with permission.
Male genitalia. © JoAnne Russo. Photo used with permission.