Moths of North Carolina
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2 NC Records

Coleophora xyridella Landry, 2005 - No Common Name


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Taxonomy
Family: ColeophoridaeSubfamily: ColeophorinaeP3 Number: 421623.00 MONA Number: 1396.10
Comments: The genus Coleophora is one of the most taxonomically challenging groups in North America. With only a few exceptions, most species cannot be identified based on photographs or external characters. The shape of the larval cases and host plants are very useful in identifying species, and high-quality dissections of genitalia are essential to recognize the majority of species. There are numerous species complexes with many undescribed species, and the taxonomy of Nearctic species remains largely unresolved.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following is from a detailed description by Landry (2005). The head is white, except for the frons and vertex that are pale buff. The labial palp is also white, except for a pale brown streak that is present on the inner and outer sides of the second article, and on the ventral side of the third article. The second article is very short and lacks a ventral apical tuft, while the third article is acuminately tapered and about two-thirds the length of the second. The scape is white above and the flagellum entirely white in the female. In males the flagellum has pale buff or very pale brown annulations on the proximal one-third to one-half of the antenna. The dorsum of the thorax is pale buff in the male, but white in the female. The ground color of the upper surface of the forewing is white, with several ochreous-brown, narrow streaks highlighting the intervenal areas. The white areas in the cell and behind the cell have very scattered dark brown scales, with peppering of varying extent on different specimens. The extreme costal margin edge is dark brown in the proximal half. The upper surface of the hindwing is pale grayish brown and the fringes buff gray. The underside of the forewing is grayish brown, and the basal half is darker In the male. The underside of the body is creamy white. The legs are creamy white, and the femurs and tibiae have a pale brown longitudinal streak on the outer side that is darker in the female. The abdomen is creamy white or yellowish white and abdominal tergum I lacks posterior struts. The transverse strut is straight and lightly sclerotized in the middle. The spine patches are elongate, 2-3x as long as wide, with 25-35 spines. Landry (2005) noted that the external appearance of adults of C. xyridella is nearly identical to that of C. eratipennella. The only consistent difference is the very sparse peppering of dark brown scales on the white discal areas of the forewing of C. xyridella specimens. Specimens of C. eratipennella show no trace of such dark peppering. Females of C. xyridella can be recognized by the protruding, heavily sclerotized, blade-like ovipositor, which is exposed in undissected specimens. This feature is not found in any other Nearctic Coleophora. Another species with a similar forewing pattern is C. laurentella, but it also lacks the dark peppering found in C. xyridella. The labial palps also differ in terms of the relative proportions of the articles.
Wingspan: 12.5-17.5 mm, mean =14.4 mm; male 12.5-13.0 mm; female 13.0-17.5 mm (Landry, 2005).
Adult Structural Features: Landry (2005) provides detailed descriptions and illustrations of the male and female genitalia. This species is externally very similar to C. cratipennella, but can be readily distinguished by the male and female genitalia. Female C. xyridella can also be recognized by the protruding, heavily sclerotized, blade-like ovipositor that is unique to this species. Another superficially similar form, C. laurentella, has completely different genitalia and a different larval case structure.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable only by close inspection of structural features or by DNA analysis.
Immatures and Development: Landry (2005) found the mature larval cases on the seed heads of a senescent Yellow-eyed Grass (Xyris sp.), and Xyris seeds are the presumed larval food. The cases are cigar-shaped, ribbed, and have a very pale straw color. Reared specimens emerged between 22 July and 21 August, which suggests either a protracted generation or perhaps two overlapping generations. The feeding period of larvae is uncertain, since feeding was apparently terminated when Landry (2005) collected cases in April in Mississippi.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
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 have been collected from early April through mid- September, with the earliest records in April and May from central Florida.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The larvae apparently feed on Yellow-eyed Grasses, which are commonly found in Coastal Plain habitats that vary from wet to drier sites. Many of our native species are found at wet sites such as ditches and wet savannas, or along the margins of canals, impoundments and natural ponds.
Larval Host Plants: Landry (2005) found cases attached to the fruiting heads of a Yellow-eyed Grass (Xyris sp.), which is the presumed host. This is the only Coleophora that is known to feed on Xyris. - View
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR SU
State Protection:
Comments: We have recent records from the Sandhills that appear to be northern disjuncts from this otherwise southern coastal species. Additional data are needed on the distribution and abundance of this species in North Carolina before we can assess its conservation status.

 Photo Gallery for Coleophora xyridella - No common name

Photos: 1

Recorded by: J. B. Sullivan and Steve Hall on 2020-10-13
Scotland Co.
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