Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFTischeriidae Members:
Astrotischeria Members:
37 NC Records

Astrotischeria astericola (Braun, 1972) - No Common Name


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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tischerioidea Family: TischeriidaeP3 Number: 230013.00 MONA Number: 157.00
Comments: Astrotischeria astericola is one of 13 described species of Astrotischeria in North America. Most species feed on members of the Asteraceae.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Braun 1972, Eiseman 2019.Technical Description, Immature Stages: Braun 1972, Eiseman 2019.                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The ground color of the forewings varies from clear bright ocher yellow to brownish ocherous and is sometimes dusted with brownish scales (Braun 1972). A band of larger scales extends diagonally across the wing beginning at the basal third of the costa and is often interrupted. A larger band extends from about two-thirds of the costa diagonally and meets a patch of scales at the tornus. The adults closely resemble several other Astrotischeria species and are best identified by their host plants, genitalia, and leaf mine characteristics (Microleps.org). The most convenient way to identify Astrotischeria species is by collecting leaf mines from host plants and keeping them until the adults emerge. Morphologically similar species that can be separated by host plants include A. ambrosiaeella (a specialist on Ambrosia trifida), A. heliopsisella (a specialist on Heliopsis helianthoides and Ambrosia trifida), A. solidagonifoliella (a specialist on Solidago), and A. astericola (a specialist on Symphyotrichum and Eurybia).
Wingspan: 7.5-8.5 mm (Braun 1972).
Adult Structural Features: Braun (1972) provides keys for identifying males and females based on genitalia. Her description of the genitalia follows. Males: The vinculum tapers to a rounded point. The costa of the harpe is developed into a single large curved, and heavily sclerotized, sharp-pointed tooth. The cucullus is slender and setose. The anellus has a deep sinus dorsally, and a pair of sharp spine-like teeth ventrally. The aedeagus is bulbous at the base, with a cornutus that forks near mid-length into thin, rapidly narrowing, acuminate forks. The socii are slender elongate setose lobes that do not exceed the forks of the uncus. The forks of the uncus are narrowly triangular and sharp-pointed. Females: The ovipositor lobes are densely clothed with short peg setae that are thicker than their distance apart. The lateral lobes are small and the setae long. The sex opening is concealed by a sclerotized projection of the anterior margin. The posterior apophyses are slender. Sternite of 8 scarcely produced and forking into the slender curved arms of the patibulum. The bases of the prela are slender. The outer half of the distal slender section is enlarged and curved and presses into the enlarged portion of the ductus bursae.
Immatures and Development: The larvae mine the leaves of several species of native asters that are found in forests or along forest edges. Females lay eggs on the upper surfaces of the leaves and the early mine is a roundish blotch. The maturing larva expands this to produce an irregularly shaped and more elongated blotch mine that is transparent and lacks frass. Shortly before pupation, the mature larva produces a circular nidus that is outlined with silk. A leaf often has two or more larvae, and the mines may fuse so that much of the leaf is consumed. Adults emerge from the underside of the leaf and the pupal skin is left attached to the leaf surface (Braun 1972; Eiseman 2019).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Braun (1972) noted that this species is a common woodland species that has been long overlooked by lepidopterists. Current locality records are primarily from an area extending from southern Ohio and vicinity to eastern Kentucky, eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina. Eiseman (2019) also reported records from Alberta, Michigan, and Missouri. In North Carolina, this species is relatively common in the Blue Ridge where it is frequently seen along forest roads and other settings that support woodland asters.
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)

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