Tortricidae

Ecdytolopha insiticiana Locust Twig Borer

10 9 8 n=3 • 7 High Mt. 6 N 5 • • u 4 • • 3 • m • • 2 • • • b 1 • e 0 • • r 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 • 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 NC counties: 15 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec o 10 f 9 n=33 = Sighting or Collection 8 • 7 Low Mt. High counts of: in NC since 2001 F 6 l 5 7 - Macon - 1999-05-15 = Not seen since 2001 4 • i 3 7 - Macon - 1999-07-16 g 2 Status Rank h 1 6 - Macon - 1999-06-04 0 NC US NC Global t 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 D Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec a 10 10 9 9 t 8 n=12 8 n=0 e 7 Pd 7 CP s 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 0 0 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Three periods to each month: 1-10 / 11-20 / 21-31 FAMILY: SUBFAMILY: TRIBE: TAXONOMIC_COMMENTS:

FIELD GUIDE DESCRIPTIONS: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012) ONLINE PHOTOS: MPG; BugGuide, BAMONA TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, ADULTS: Soloman (1995) TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, IMMATURE STAGES: Soloman (1995)

ID COMMENTS: The adults can be easily identified by the rather distinctive patterning on the forewing. Dark brown to grayish brown coloration covers the forewing from the base to about mid-way on the dorsal margin. From there, it slants posteriorly towards the costal margin and adjoins a pronounced pale dirty white to pinkish whitish region that covers much of the remainder of the forewing. The whitish region has a small black patch near its middle that is centered along the dorsal edge. Smaller fine black specks and spots may extend from the black patch towards the costa. Just beyond four-fifths, a rather faint and slightly curved dark brown to blackish streak extends from above the costal margin to near the mid-point of the termen. The hindwings are uniformly gray. Ecdytolopha mana is similar, but lacks the black patch near the dorsal margin and specializes on hackberries (Celtis).

DISTRIBUTION: Ecdytolopha insiticiana has been documented in Ontario and Manitoba, and occurs throughout much of the eastern US where the host plant occurs. It is generally either rare or absent in much of the Coastal Plain from Virginia southward. As of 2020, our records for North Carolina are all from the Blue Ridge and Piedmont.

FLIGHT COMMENT: As of 2020, we have records of adults that extend from late April through August.

HABITAT: Ecdytolopha insiticiana is strongly affiliated with Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), which naturally occurs as a minor element in many hardwood forest communities in North Carolina. Black Locust is more common today along roadsides, in early successional forests, and in other sunny, disturbed habitats.

FOOD: Although the primary host is Black Locust, the larvae may possibly use other species of Robinia, and on rare occasions may use Wisteria spp. (Robinson et al., 2010).

OBSERVATION_METHODS: The adults are attracted to lights. Infected plants can be easily identified by the presence of frass clumps near the bases of the petioles, and by the elongated, swollen stem segments.

NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM RANKS: GNR S4S5

STATE PROTECTION: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

COMMENTS: This species appears to be common in the Blue Ridge and western Piedmont, but less so in the eastern Piedmont.

March 2021 The of North Carolina - Early Draft 1