Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFGelechiidae Members: Pseudotelphusa Members: 51 NC Records

Pseudotelphusa quercinigracella (Chambers, 1872) - No Common Name


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