Argyrotaenia niscana

Status

NATIVE

DOMESTIC SURVEY

Taxonomy

Argyrotaenia niscana (Kearfott) (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Archipini)

Synonyms: camerata (Eulia)

Adult Recognition

FWL: 6.0–9.0 mm

Head, thorax rusty red to orange; labial palpi brown; thoracic tuft present; ground color of forewing rusty red with scattered white and orange scales; fasciae shining silvery white; apex acute; fringe rusty red at apex, pale orange elsewhere; male without forewing costal fold; hindwing pale brown or gray.

Male genitalia are characterized by a broad, moderate uncus; reduced socii; simple transtilla; subtriangular valvae; and a curved phallus with well-developed caulis. Female genitalia have not been illustrated in the scientific literature but likely resemble other species of Argyrotaenia.

Larval Morphology

Larvae have not been described but are presumably similar to other species of Argyrotaenia, especially A. franciscana, a close relative.

Similar Species

Argyrotaenia niscana is most similar to A. lignitaenia Powell and an undescribed species of Argyrotaenia (Landry et al. 1999Landry et al. 1999:
Landry, B., Powell, J. A., Sperling, F. A. H. 1999. Systematics of the Argyrotaenia franciscana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) species group: evidence from mitochondrial DNA. Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 92: 40-46.). According to Powell (1965)Powell (1965):
Powell, J. A. 1965. Supplementary notes on North American and Mexican species of Decodes and Argyrotaenia, with descriptions of new species (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 78: 65-80., A. lignitaenia is a larger, paler species with less distinct markings. Little is published about the similar, undescribed species, which is known from Montaña de Oro State Park, California (Landry et al. 1999Landry et al. 1999:
Landry, B., Powell, J. A., Sperling, F. A. H. 1999. Systematics of the Argyrotaenia franciscana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) species group: evidence from mitochondrial DNA. Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 92: 40-46.).

Distribution

This species is restricted to California and Baja California, with records from Monterey County south to northern Baja California, Mexico (Powell and Opler 2009Powell and Opler 2009:
Powell, J. A., Opler, P. A. 2009. Moths of western North America. University of California Press, Berkeley. 369 pp.).

Biology

Argyrotaenia niscana is a specialist on chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum). It is univoltine, with adults active from May to July. Little else is known about its life cycle.

Plant Associations

View full screen host table here

Links

Additional photos and a distribution map of this species in North America are available at Moth Photographers Group.