Moths of North Carolina
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
 Family (Alpha):
« »
View PDFHeliozelidae Members:
Aspilanta Members:
3 NC Records

Aspilanta oinophylla van Nieukerken & Wagner, 2012 - No Common Name

Aspilanta oinophyllaAspilanta oinophyllaAspilanta oinophyllaAspilanta oinophylla
Taxonomy
Family: HeliozelidaeP3 Number: 21a0081 MONA Number: 240.10
Species Status: The genus Antispila has traditionally been a catch-all genus for a large group of similarly patterned species with a fascia before the middle of the forewing and a pair of opposing spots. Nieukerken and Eiseman (2020) placed a cluster of six species that have reduced wing venation in a separate genus, Aspilanta. Antispila species in North America never have an apical spot, while Aspilanta species do, with the exception of A. viticordifoliella.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Nieukerken et al. (2012)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Nieukerken et al. (2012)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This is a tiny dark brown to blackish moth with an anterior fascia, a pair of triangular marks at midwing, and a subterminal spot. The following following description is from Nieukerken et al. (2012).

The face and vertex of the head are covered with appressed, strongly metallic, silvery-white scales that are more prominently raised in male. The maxillary palp is porrect and white. The antenna is fuscous, with the apical one or two flagellomeres white. The labial palp is silvery white and slightly upturned. The thorax is lead-colored, shiny, and contrast with the forewings. The Legs are gray, and the tarsi mostly yellowish white, especially on the undersides. The forewing is dark fuscous with silver-golden patterning. There is an outwardly oblique fascia that extends from one-eight of the wing length of the inner margin to one-fourth on the costa. The fascia narrows towards the costa. There is a triangular (dorsal) spot at the middle of the inner margin that reaches to the middle of the wing. A smaller triangular costal spot is present just beyond the middle and sometimes touches the dorsal spot. A small, silvery sub-apical spot is present in the middle of wing at three-fourths. The fringe line is distinct and the terminal fringe is paler. The hindwing is pale gray. The abdomen is lead-colored, including the vestiture on the external genitalia.

The silver spot in the sub-apical region of the forewing is found in all but one species of Aspilanta in North America (A. viticordifoliella being the exception). Either barcoding or dissection of genitalia is needed to distinguish Antispila oinophylla from A.ampelopsifoliella, as well as a currently undescribed species. These three species are the only species with both a silvery white head and a sub-apical spot.
Wingspan: 5.5–6.2 mm for males; 4.8–5.6 mm for females (Nieukerken et al., 2012)
Forewing Length: 2.5–2.8 mm for males; 2.3–2.8 mm for females (Nieukerken et al., 2012)
Adult Structural Features: Nieukerken et al. (2012) has detailed descriptions and illustrations of the male and female genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable only by close inspection of structural features or by DNA analysis.
Immatures and Development: The following description of the larval life history is from Nieukerken et al. (2012) and Nieukerken and Eiseman (2020). The eggs are laid singly and usually within 1–2 mm from a vein. The mine starts as a rather straight or slightly contorted linear mine towards the vein. It then usually forms a right angle and often follows the vein for a short distance, before turning away from the vein and expanding into a blotch. The linear portion of the mine is usually later incorporated into the blotch. The frass in the linear portion usually occupies the complete mine width, but is occasionally deposited in a thin line. In the blotch, much of the blackish-brown frass is deposited close to the origin in semi-circular concentric frass lines. These are best seen in thin shade leaves; in sun-exposed leaves the frass pattern is often obscured. The whole mine occupies as a rule an area of less than 10 × 10 mm; only in thin leaves are mines appreciably larger. The fully grown larva cuts out an elliptic case ca. 3.2–4.0 mm long. The larvae is yellowish green, with green gut contents, and a brown head and prothorax.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Aspilanta oinophylla is native to eastern North America and has been introduced to Italy. It appears to be widely distributed in eastern North America, but records are limited due to the need to dissect specimens for identification. Nieukerken and Eiseman (2020) reported specimens from Ontario, Quebec, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Vermont, Massachusetts and New York southward to Oklahoma, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Georgia. As of 2022, we have two records from the Piedmont and one from the Blue Ridge.
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
Flight Comments: Larvae have been found in July, August and September in Canada and the northeastern US, and until October farther south. Adults are on the wing from June to August (Nieukerken and Eiseman, 2020), and local populations appear to be bivoltine.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Populations rely of native grapes for reproduction. Our native species occupy a variety of habitats that include open, disturbed sites such as woodland edges, fencerows and early successional habitats, as well as forested sites where they can be found along riverbanks and in mature forests. Wild grapes are frequently found is moist to mesic sites, but some can tolerate drier conditions.
Larval Host Plants: Wild grapes are the primary hosts, but Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) and Thicket Creeper (P. vitacea) are occasionally used, particularly when in close physical contact with wild grapes. Grapes that are hosts include Summer Grape (Vitis aestivalis), Fox Grape (V. labrusca), Riverbank Grape (V. riparia), and Frost Grape (V. vulpina). The common cultivated grape (V. vinifera) is used in Italy, but there are no reports of it being used in North America. In North Carolina, we have records for Frost Grape and Possum Grape (V. baileyana). - View
Observation Methods: Specimens are best obtained by finding leaf mines on grapes and rearing the adults. Identification requires either barcoding or the examination of genitalia.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Vitaceous Tangles
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S1S3
State Protection:
Comments: This species was only recently documented in North Carolina. It is presumably more widespread than current records suggest.

 Photo Gallery for Aspilanta oinophylla - No common name

Photos: 7

Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-09-15
Avery Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-09-15
Avery Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-09-15
Avery Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-09-15
Avery Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Tracy S Feldman on 2020-07-24
Durham Co.
Comment: Two blotch mines with central frass on Vitis vulpina leaves. 		Recorded by: Tracy S Feldman on 2020-07-24
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Tracy S Feldman on 2020-07-24
Durham Co.
Comment: These were found in blotch mines with central frass on Vitis vulpina leaves. Adults emerged on 8/26/2020.