Chimoptesis pennsylvaniana

Status

NATIVE

DOMESTIC SURVEY

Taxonomy

Chimoptesis pennsylvaniana (Heinrich) (Tortricidae: Olethreutinae: Eucosmini)

Common names: filigreed moth

Note: As the name pennsylvaniana was only a suggestion for this species by Kearfott (1907a)Kearfott (1907a):
Kearfott, W. D. 1907a. New North American Tortricidae. Transactions of the American Entomological Society. 33: 1-98., the authorship belongs to Heinrich (1923b)Heinrich (1923b):
Heinrich, C. 1923b. Revision of the North American moths of the subfamily Eucosminae of the family Olethreutidae. Bulletin of the United States National Museum. 123: 1-298., who was the first to afford it taxonomic rank, even though he interpreted Kearfott’s suggested name to be a valid subspecies designation.

Adult Recognition

FWL: 6.5–8.0 mm

Head white; thorax dark brown to black; tegulae white to pale green; forewing predominantly dark brown to black, dorsal margin with irregularly-shaped green or occasionally white band running from base to tornus, only interrupted briefly by a black streak near tornus; costal strigulae with similar shades of green or white; male with costal fold present; hindwing brown.

Male genitalia are characterized by uncus obsolete, socii rectangular, cucullus well-developed. Female genitalia are characterized by a ring-like sterigma, a sclerotized, cylinder-shaped posterior portion of the ductus bursae; and two thorn-like signa.

Larval Morphology

Larvae are unknown for all species of Chimoptesis at present.

Similar Species

Adults are more similar to Epinotia albicapitana (Kearfott) than to other species of Chimoptesis. Chimoptesis pennsylvaniana can be separated from E. albicapitana by the spring flight time and eastern distribution. Epinotia albicapitana is a fall-flying western species; any eastern records of E. albicapitana almost undoubtedly are misidentifications of C. pennsylvaniana. An undescribed species of Gretchena from the northeastern United States is active around the same time as C. pennsylvaniana  and can appear superficially similar. 

Distribution

Chimoptesis pennsylvaniana is broadly distributed in eastern North America, from Massachusetts to Wisconsin, south to Florida and Texas.

Biology

Chimoptesis pennsylvaniana has been reared from oak (Quercus spp). Adults have been collected from January into early May, suggesting one or perhaps two generations per year.

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.