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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Pyralid and Crambid Snout Moths (Pyraloidea) » Pyralid Moths (Pyralidae) » Phycitinae » Phycitini » Nephopteryx Series » Actrix » Tupelo Leaffolder - Hodges#5818 (Actrix nyssaecolella)

Species Actrix nyssaecolella - Tupelo Leaffolder - Hodges#5818

Classification · Hodges Number · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Season · Food · Life Cycle · See Also · Internet References · Works Cited

Tupelo Leaffolder - Actrix nyssaecolella

Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Superfamily Pyraloidea (Pyralid and Crambid Snout Moths)

Family Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)

Subfamily Phycitinae

Tribe Phycitini

No Taxon (Nephopteryx Series)

Genus Actrix

Species nyssaecolella (Tupelo Leaffolder - Hodges#5818)

Hodges Number

5818

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

described in 1904 by Dyar, who originally placed it in genus Tacoma

Explanation of Names

nyssaecolella is from Latin Nyssa (scientific name for Tupelo) + -cola "dweller" + the diminutive ending -ella. Taken together it translates to: "little dweller of Tupelos"

Numbers

one of 2 species in this genus in North America listed at All-Leps

Size

wingspan about 15-18 mm, based on two Internet photos

Identification

Adult: forewing light gray with dark gray band across PM area and dark gray hourglass-shaped marking in AM area bisected by thick diagonal whitish line; subterminal line whitish, diffuse, edged distally with dark gray; terminal line composed of several dark dots; hindwing brownish-gray with pale fringe

Range

Michigan and New York to Florida, west to Texas

Season

adults fly from April to July

Larvae are present in July and August.(1)

Food

larvae feed on leaves of tupelo (Nyssa spp.)

Life Cycle

Overwinter as pupa.(1)

See Also

Pyla species and other related moths are similar but lack one or more of the characteristics described in Identification section above (compare photos of numerous species by Jim Vargo at MPG: 1, 2)

Internet References

Moth Photographers Group (MPG)

Barcode of Life (BOLD)

Works Cited

1.	Eastern Forest Insects Whiteford L. Baker. 1972. U.S. Department of Agriculture · Forest Service.

Contributed by Robin McLeod on 4 August, 2008 - 12:15am
Additional contributions by Chuck Entz, Marci Hess, Blocky, Steve Morris
Last updated 26 August, 2023 - 3:42pm

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