Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Gelechiidae Members:	Pseudotelphusa Members:	51 NC Records

Pseudotelphusa quercinigracella (Chambers, 1872) - No Common Name

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Gelechioidea

Family:
Gelechiidae

Subfamily:
Gelechiinae

P3 Number:
59a0787

MONA Number:
1874.00

Comments: Pseudotelphusa species in eastern North America constitute a taxonomically challenging group, with several described species that have similar patterning, along with one or more species that are likely undescribed. Little effort has been put forth to correlate DNA barcoding with external morphology and genitalia, so there is still much uncertainty in this regard. Pseudotelphusa quercinigracella may be a species complex, with seven BINS currently recognized on BOLD. Our assignment of North Carolina specimens to this species is best treated as provisional until additional taxonomic studies are completed on this group.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Adult Markings: The following description is based in part on that of Forbes (1923). The head, thorax and ground color of the forewing vary from powdery-gray to light brown. The second segment of the labial palp has three very narrow dark rings at the base, middle, and apex, while the terminal segment has subterminal, middle and basal rings that are more prominent. The antenna has alternating dark brown and pale annulations. The forewing has a heavy, outwardly-curved, black bar that extends from the costa just before the wing base to the fold. The bar sometimes has an apically-projecting tooth or line near its terminus, and has two large scale tufts. Two costal spots are present at around one-half and three-fifths the wing length. The first has one or two black dots inwardly that are often margined with a few tan scales, while the second spot has a pair of similar dots that are often fused to form a short, curved, black discal bar that may also have a few tan scales. Blackish specks are often evident in the subterminal area, and the fringe is ashy-gray. In addition to the larger marks, resting specimens usually have a transverse line of four black dots that extend from the wing base across the thorax, where there are two, to the second wing base. Most specimens lack a series of 6-7 black dots that extend around the apex as seen in some of our Pseudotelphusa species. The foreleg is black with four white metatarsal rings, while the hindwing is light smoky-gray.

Genitalia and other structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.

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
Immature Dates: High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft. Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft. Piedmont (Pd) Coastal Plain (CP) Click on graph to enlarge

Habitats and Life History

Habitats:

Larval Host Plants: The larvae feed on oaks (Forbes, 1923; Robinson et al., 2010), with the reported hosts including Blackjack Oak (Quercus marilandica) and Water Oak (Q. nigra). In North Carolina, Charley Eiseman has a rearing record (BugGuide, 2017) in North Carolina from Swamp Chestnut Oak (Q. michauxii), and red-banded larvae that appear to be this species have also been found on White Oak and Northern Red Oak. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and the larvae can be found in leaf ties on oaks.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S4S5

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

Comments:

Photo Gallery for Pseudotelphusa quercinigracella - None

57 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2025-04-19 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2025-04-19 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-04-05 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2024-09-05 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2024-09-05 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-09-05 Buncombe Co. Comment: Not reared; id tentative; beat sheet on Northern Red Oak.
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-09-05 Buncombe Co. Comment: Not reared; id tentative; beat sheet on Northern Red Oak.		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-08-21 Yancey Co. Comment: Larva was in a leaf tie on White Oak.
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2024-08-13 Pamlico Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-08 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-24 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-20 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-14 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2024-04-29 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2024-04-29 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-24 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka and Chuck Smith on 2024-04-23 Gates Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2024-04-16 New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka, David George on 2023-08-05 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-30 Swain Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2023-07-26 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-18 New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-05-31 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-05-23 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-05-02 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-04-20 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2023-04-17 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2023-03-24 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2023-03-24 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2023-03-24 Mecklenburg Co. Comment: