Moths of North Carolina
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
Family (Alpha):
« »
View PDFProdoxidae Members:
Lampronia Members:
4 NC Records

Lampronia russatella (Clemens, 1860) - No Common Name


Lampronia russatella Lampronia russatella Lampronia russatella Lampronia russatella
Taxonomy
Family: ProdoxidaeSubfamily: LamproniinaeP3 Number: 21a0022 MONA Number: 175.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Clemens (1860)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Eiseman (2024)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This is a distinctively marked species with a purplish-brown forewing that is overlain with pale yellow marks. The head tuft is straw-colored and the antenna is purplish-brown with pale yellow annulations that are more prominent on the basal half. The marks on the forewing include a pale-yellow, complete, sub-medial fascia that is widest on the inner margin, and a pair of opposing and slightly displaced triangular marks at around two-thirds the wing length. Specimens may or may not have an additional small, subapical, pale-yellow costal spot. The hindwing varies from light purplish-brown to brownish-gray and is unmarked.
Wingspan: approximately 12 mm (BugGuide).
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The host plants of this species were unknown until recently when John Klymko reared this species from leaf mines on Twoleaf Miterwort (Mitella diphylla) in Nova Scotia. The larvae produce full-depth blotch mines and deposit frass in compact pellets that are scattered at random (Eiseman, 2024; iNaturalist). The late-instar larvae overwinter either outside the mines, or in circular chambers within the mines that are narrowly lined with frass. Pupation occurs following the spring warm-up in elongated, pale-brown, silken cocoons that are spun outside of the mines, with the adults emerging a few weeks later.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Lampronia russatella has northern affinities, and has been found in southern Canada from Alberta westward to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. In the US, the species has been documented in Illinois, Kentucky, West Virginia, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, Virginia and North Carolina, with most records from the Appalachian region. As of 2024, we have two site records that are both from mesic habitats in Buncombe County.
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 April through July in different areas of the range. As of 2024, our limited records are from mid-May through mid-June.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Local populations are typically found in rich, mesic hardwood forests.
Larval Host Plants: As of 2024, the only documented host is Twoleaf Miterwort (Mitella diphylla). - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and the larvae can be found mining the leaves of miterworts.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR[S1S2]
State Protection:
Comments: This is a seemly rare species that appears to reach its southern limit in the southern Appalachian Mountains. As of 2024, we have only two site records from Buncombe County.

 Photo Gallery for Lampronia russatella - No common name

Photos: 6

Recorded by: tom ward on 2023-06-19
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: B bockhahn, J thomson on 2023-06-15
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: B bockhahn, J thomson on 2023-06-15
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-05-23
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-05-23
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-05-19
Buncombe Co.
Comment: