Moths of North Carolina
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
 Family (Alpha):
« »
Sole representative of Incurvariidae in NC
30 NC Records

Paraclemensia acerifoliella (Fitch, 1854) - Maple Leafcutter Moth

Paraclemensia acerifoliella
view caption 		Paraclemensia acerifoliella
view caption 		Paraclemensia acerifoliellaParaclemensia acerifoliella
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Incurvarioidea Family: IncurvariidaeSubfamily: [Incurvariinae]Tribe: [Incurvariini]P3 Number: 21a0070 MONA Number: 181.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Schmidt Nielsen (1982)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Drooz (1985).                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This is a readily identifiable species that has a black antenna and steel blue forewings that are fringed with black. The thorax is also steel blue and contrasts with the bright orangish yellow scales on the head. The hindwings are smoky brown, translucent, and bordered with a pale brown fringe of long scales (Drooz, 1985). The legs are whitish, and the abdomen is dark brown.
Wingspan: 8.5-13 mm (Drooz, 1985).
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The following life history account is largely based on Drooz (1985) from observations made in Canada. The adults first appear seasonally at about the time that sugar maples or other host plants are undergoing leaf expansion. Females deposit their eggs singly on the undersides of the leaves and the hatchlings bore into the leaves and mine for about two weeks. After completing the mining stage, each larva cuts two round to oval disks out of the leaf. These are then bound together with silk to produce a movable case where the larva resides while feeding. When feeding, the larva attaches the case to the leaf and reaches out as far as possible in a circular fashion to skeletonize the leaf surface. The uneaten center of the circle remains green, but often drops out due to the dead tissue surrounding it. This creates a hole as large as 12 mm in diameter. The larva may then move to a new feeding area and repeat the process. As it grows, progressively larger pieces of leaves are cut out and attached to the case, with the largest piece attached to the exposed side. When fully grown, the larva drops to the ground with its case and pupates on the soil surface. Individuals overwinter as pupae, and the adults emerge with the subsequent spring leaf-out. Drooz (1985) noted that this species can become a pest in Sugar Maple stands in Canada where significant defoliation of trees occurs during years when populations reach high densities. In is commonly found on Sugar Maple in North Carolina, but does not reach high enough densities to be a significant pest.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Paraclemensia acerifoliella is broadly distributed across southern Canada and New England. From there, it ranges as far west as Illinois, Wisconsin, and Missouri, and as far south as North Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi and eastern Texas. Disjunct populations occur in northern Florida and central Texas. This species appears to be largely absent from much of the southeastern Coastal Plain. As of 2024, we have records from the Piedmont and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Those from the Piedmont are based on literature records and need to be verified.
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