Moths of North Carolina
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3 NC Records

Eucosma argutipunctana (Blanchard & Knudson, 1983) - Coastal Eucosma Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tortricoidea Family: TortricidaeSubfamily: OlethreutinaeTribe: EucosminiP3 Number: 620795.00 MONA Number: 3005.10 MONA Synonym: Phaneta argutipunctana
Comments: Eucosma argutipunctana is a member of the griseocapitana species group of Wright and Gilligan (2015), which consists of five species that are generally similar in forewing appearance and genitalia. Eucosma alabamae is the only other member of the group that is known to occur in North Carolina.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Wright and Gilligan (2015)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following description is based primarily on that of Blanchard and Knudson (1983). The head is mostly whitish with some brownish tipped scales on the vertex. The labial palp is whitish ocherous, with the third segment blackish. The antenna is whitish with prominent black scaling on the inner surface of the scape, while the thorax and patagia are whitish with dark brown central patches. The forewing ground color is whitish and is overlain on the basal two-thirds with strongly contrasting black to dark brown scales that tend to be arranged in evenly spaced, interrupted, vertical rows. The ocellus is ocherous with two or three weak black dashes near the center, and a short vertical black line along the inner margin. The dorsal, ventral, and outer margins of the ocellus are surrounded by areas with heavy salt-and-pepper patterning, as is the termen. The costa is marked with a series of dark brown to blackish streaks, and the hindwing is light fuscous, with the fringe somewhat paler and with a darker basal band. Eucosma argutipunctana is best identified by its distinctive patterning and the presence of black scaling on the scape of the antenna.
Forewing Length: 4.7-6.4 mm (average = 5.7 mm) for males; 5.2-7.0 mm (average = 6.1 mm) for females (Blanchard and Knudson, 1983).
Adult Structural Features: Blanchard and Knudson (1983) and Wright and Gilligan (2015) have images and illustrations of the male and female genitalia. The latter authors also provide a general description of the genitalia of members of the griseocapitana species group as follows. In males, the uncus is moderately developed and the dorsolateral shoulders of the tegumen are slightly hunched. The valva has a concave costal margin, with the ventral emargination moderate and the saccular corner angulate. The cucullus has the dorsal lobe strongly developed and the apex rounded. The distal margin is convex and of nearly uniform curvature, while the anal angle is weakly to moderately developed and narrowly rounded.

In females, the papillae anales are moderately setose and microtrichiate, while the lamella postvaginalis is rectangular and microtrichiate. The lateral extremities of sternum 7 are strongly developed and pointed (except in E. linitipunctana), and the scaling of sternum 7 is dense on the posterior lobes and lateral extremities. The ductus bursae has a sclerotized ring at its juncture with the ductus seminalis, and the corpus bursae has signa that are nearly equal in size. The authors note that tergum 8 has taxonomically useful patterns of scaling and setation, and that E. argutipunctana is the only member of the griseocapitana species group in which tergum 8 is densely covered with short, hair-like microtrichia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larval life history is undocumented.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Adults have been observed from central Texas eastward to Florida and northward to North Carolina. Scattered populations have also been found in other areas of the country, including southeastern Colorado, central Illinois, and southwestern Kansas (Wright and Gilligan, 2015). As of 2022, we have only two site records, with one from the Piedmont and the other from the Coastal Plain.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Flight Comments: The adults mostly fly from August through early October, but specimens have also been collected in March, June, July, and December at the southernmost localities. As of 2022, our records are from early September to early October.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Most of the records for E. argutipunctana are from sandy habitats. Our very limited records include a coastal island and a site in the Piedmont near a lake margin.
Larval Host Plants: The host plants are undocumented. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR SU
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 rare in the state, but more information is needed on its habitat requirements, host plants, and distribution before we can assess its conservation status.

 Photo Gallery for Eucosma argutipunctana - Coastal Eucosma Moth

Photos: 2

Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-09-13
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2021-09-11
Carteret Co.
Comment: