Epinotia nisella

Distinguished from the similar E. cinereana by male and female genitalia structure and DNA barcodes; North American populations show moderate barcode divergence from European populations but no correlated morphological differences. Forewing pattern highly variable, with multiple color morphs previously described as separate taxa. Distinguished from other Epinotia species by combination of angulated basal patch edge, presence of ferruginous dorsal blotch, and leaden-metallic ocellus markings.

Small moth with wingspan 12–17 mm. Forewings grey, variably mixed with white and slightly ferruginous-tinged, irregularly strigulated with blackish-grey. Basal patch darker with blackish, acutely angulated edge. Often with ferruginous or red-brown flattened-triangular dorsal blotch distal to basal patch. Central fascia slender, irregular, somewhat darker. Ocellus edges sometimes leaden-metallic; termen sinuate. Hindwings light fuscous, darker terminally. Larva pale green with dark brown head. Highly variable in forewing pattern; some individuals suffused with ferruginous except basal and terminal patches.

Woodlands, parks, and damp places where host plants occur. Associated with stands of Populus and Salix, particularly rough-leaved species.

Holarctic: most of Europe (except Iceland, Portugal, Ukraine, and central Balkan Peninsula), east to Near East and eastern Palearctic. In North America: from Newfoundland to British Columbia in Canada; Massachusetts and Minnesota in the United States.

Adults active July through August (or July to September in some regions). Larvae feed April to June. Overwinters as egg or small larva.

Larva feeds in female catkins of Populus species, primarily between spun leaves or within catkins. Has been observed boring in current-growth branchlets of P. balsamifera when available.

• Populus tremula - larval hostaspen
• Populus nigra - larval hostblack poplar
• Populus × canescens - larval hostgrey poplar
• Populus tremuloides - larval hostquaking aspen; primary North American host
• Populus balsamifera - larval hostbalsam poplar; larvae bore in branchlets
• Salix cinerea - larval hostgrey willow
• Salix caprea - larval hostgoat willow

Overwinters as egg or small larva. Larval feeding period April to June, occurring in catkins or between spun leaves; may also bore in current-growth branchlets. Pupation occurs in larval habitation or in flimsy, brownish, silken cocoon amongst leaf litter during June and July. Adults emerge July to August/September.

Adults fly from dusk and come to light. By day, adults rest on foliage or amongst lichen on tree trunks of larval foodplants. When disturbed, flies erratically to another resting place. Shows feeding plasticity: larvae can switch between feeding in female catkins and boring in current-growth branchlets depending on host availability and branchlet thickness.

• Epinotia cinereanaFormerly synonymized with E. nisella but reinstated as distinct species based on DNA barcodes and genital morphology; both occur in Holarctic region
• Proteopteryx criddleanaJunior synonym of E. cinereana, not E. nisella; historically confused with E. nisella in North America

Long treated as conspecific with E. cinereana; the two species were separated based on genetic and morphological evidence, with multiple synonyms of E. nisella reflecting its highly variable forewing pattern rather than distinct species.

• Tortricidae
• Olethreutinae
• leafroller
• Populus feeder
• Salix feeder
• Holarctic
• polymorphic
• genome sequenced

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• My Publications | Beetles In The Bush
• <i>Epinotia Nisella</i>: an Unrecorded Host and Mode of Feeding (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)
• Epinotia cinereana (Haworth, 1811) bona sp., a Holarctic tortricid distinct from E. nisella (Clerck, 1759) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Eucosmini) as evidenced by DNA barcodes, morphology and life history
• The genome sequence of the Grey Poplar Bell, Epinotia nisella (Clerck, 1759).