Archips fervidana

Status

NATIVE

DOMESTIC SURVEY

Taxonomy

Archips fervidana (Clemens) (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Archipini)

Common name: oak webworm moth

Synonyms: palludana (Tortrix), paludana (Tortrix)

Adult Recognition

FWL: 7.0–9.5 mm (males); 9.0–10.5 (females)

Head and thorax orange; forewing with ground color orange, median and terminal fascia dark brown to black along costa, obsolete towards inner margin, a large black spot present at end of cell, heavily suffused with dusty gray scaling, especially towards termen; male with narrow forewing costal fold; hindwing gray.

Male genitalia characterized by broad, circular valvae; a moderate, finger-like uncus; and a pistol-shaped uncus. Female genitalia are characterized by a bowl-shaped sterigma and long, dagger-like signum.

Larval Morphology

The following account is summarized from MacKay (1962a)MacKay (1962a):
MacKay, M. R. 1962a. Larvae of the North American Tortricinae (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 28: 1-182..

Mature larvae approximately 20–22 mm in length, width of head on average 1.6 mm. Head dark brown; prothoracic shield, anal shield, and legs dark brown; pinacula moderate in size, brown; body gray green in living larvae, brownish in preserved larvae; anal fork absent. SV group on A1, 2, 7, 8, 9 usually 3:3:3:2:2.

A more complete description of the larval chaetotaxy is available in MacKay (1962a)MacKay (1962a):
MacKay, M. R. 1962a. Larvae of the North American Tortricinae (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 28: 1-182..

Similar Species

Archips fervidana is similar to A. infumatana (Zeller) and A. cerasivorana, but A. infumatana possesses much darker forewings and A. cerasivorana can be distinguished by its orange hindwings.

Distribution

Archips fervidana is broadly distributed in the northeastern United States and eastern Canada, from New York and Ontario west to North Dakota and through the Appalachian Mountains south to Tennessee and North Carolina. The range of this species is much smaller than that of its host plants, suggesting that climate or habitat may play a significant role in the distribution of this species.

Biology

Little is known about the biology of Archips fervidana beyond the host plants listed below. Oak (Quercus spp.) appears to be the preferred host. Freeman (1958)Freeman (1958):
Freeman, T. N. 1958. The Archipinae of North America (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 7 (Vol. 90): 1-89. reports that at least some instars are partially social, with larvae “living in small webs covered with frass.” Adults have been recorded from July through August, suggesting a single generation per year.

Plant Associations

View full screen host table here

Links

Additional photos and distribution map in North America available at Moth Photographers Group.