Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFGelechiidae Members: Exoteleia Members: 18 NC Records

Exoteleia new species 1 (undescribed) - Gray-headed Pine Needleminer Moth

Exoteleia new species 1Exoteleia new species 1Exoteleia new species 1
Taxonomy
Family:
Gelechiidae		Subfamily:
Gelechiinae		P3 Number:
0.00		 MONA Number:
1840.20
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources:                                                                                  
Adult Markings: This appears to be an undescribed species that is found in the eastern US (Hodges, 1985). It is relatively small and dark, with a warm, rich, reddish-brown ground color on the forewing that is marked with three narrow, silvery-gray striae. The head and thorax are gray, which helps to distinguish this species from other members of the E. pinifoliella complex that tend to be larger, to have a more whitish head and thorax, and to be lighter colored. Administrators at the Maryland Biodiversity Project noted that specimens of this form are curated in the USNM collection (as of 2019) as "Exoteleia sp.", and are separate from the similar Pine Needleminer Moth, which has a white head and thorax as curated.
Adult Structural Features: Hodges (1985) noted that this species has the shortest female genitalia relative to the first seven abdominal segments of any of the native species.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Hodges (1985) reported specimens from New Jersey and New York, southward to coastal South Carolina and the southern Appalachians. There is also one specimen from Arkansas. As of 2025, our records are mostly from the Blue Ridge and Piedmont.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Exoteleia new species 1Alamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Flight Comments: As of 2025, our records are from early-May through mid-August, with most adults flying during May and June.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Larval Host Plants: The hosts are undocumented, but are presumably pines.
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
State Protection:
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Exoteleia new species 1 - Gray-headed Pine Needleminer Moth

Photos: 23
Exoteleia new species 1
Recorded by: David George, Kevin Bischof, Rich Teper, Patrick Coin on 2025-08-16
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Exoteleia new species 1
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06
Transylvania Co.
Comment:
Exoteleia new species 1
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-20
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Exoteleia new species 1
Recorded by: David George on 2024-06-14
Durham Co.
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Exoteleia new species 1
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-13
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Exoteleia new species 1
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-27
Madison Co.
Comment:
Exoteleia new species 1
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-24
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Exoteleia new species 1
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-22
Madison Co.
Comment:
Exoteleia new species 1
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-22
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Exoteleia new species 1
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-11
Madison Co.
Comment:
Exoteleia new species 1
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Chuck Smith on 2023-06-29
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Exoteleia new species 1
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Erich Hofmann, Jesse Anderson on 2023-05-22
New Hanover Co.
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Exoteleia new species 1
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-05-11
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Exoteleia new species 1
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-05-11
Madison Co.
Comment:
Exoteleia new species 1
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-16
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Exoteleia new species 1
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-16
Madison Co.
Comment:
Exoteleia new species 1
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-05-22
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Exoteleia new species 1
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-05-22
Madison Co.
Comment:
Exoteleia new species 1
Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn on 2017-05-02
Stokes Co.
Comment: 		Exoteleia new species 1
Recorded by: Robert Gilson on 2015-05-21
Mecklenburg Co.
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Exoteleia new species 1
Recorded by: Harry Wilson on 2012-05-12
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Exoteleia new species 1
Recorded by: Harry Wilson on 2012-05-12
Wake Co.
Comment:
Exoteleia new species 1
Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger on 2012-04-30
Wake Co.
Comment: