Moths of North Carolina
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Significant Contributors
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
Family (Alpha):
ACROLEPIIDAE-
ADELIDAE-
AMPHISBATIDAE-
AUTOSTICHIDAE-
BATRACHEDRIDAE-
BEDELLIIDAE-
BLASTOBASIDAE-
BOMBYCIDAE-
BUCCULATRICIDAE-
CARPOSINIDAE-
CHOREUTIDAE-
COLEOPHORIDAE-
COSMOPTERIGIDAE-
COSSIDAE-
CRAMBIDAE-
DEPRESSARIIDAE-
DREPANIDAE-
ELACHISTIDAE-
EPERMENIIDAE-
EPIPYROPIDAE-
EREBIDAE-Erebid Moths
ERIOCRANIIDAE-
EUTELIIDAE-
GALACTICIDAE-
GELECHIIDAE-
GEOMETRIDAE-
GLYPHIDOCERIDAE-
GLYPHIPTERIGIDAE-
GRACILLARIIDAE-
HELIOZELIDAE-
HEPIALIDAE-
HYBLAEIDAE-
INCURVARIIDAE-
LASIOCAMPIDAE-
LECITHOCERIDAE-Long-horned Moths
LIMACODIDAE-
LYONETIIDAE-
MEGALOPYGIDAE-Flannel Moths
MICROPTERIGIDAE-
MIMALLONIDAE-
MOMPHIDAE-Mompha Moths
NEPTICULIDAE-
NOCTUIDAE-Owlet Moths
NOLIDAE-
NOTODONTIDAE-
OECOPHORIDAE-
OPOSTEGIDAE-
PELEOPODIDAE-
PLUTELLIDAE-
PRODOXIDAE-
PSYCHIDAE-Bagworm Moths
PTEROPHORIDAE-
PYRALIDAE-
SATURNIIDAE-Saturniids
SCHRECKENSTEINIIDAE-
SESIIDAE-
SPHINGIDAE-Sphinx Moths
THYATIRIDAE-
THYRIDIDAE-
TINEIDAE-
TISCHERIIDAE-
TORTRICIDAE-
URANIIDAE-
URODIDAE-
XYLORYCTIDAE-
YPONOMEUTIDAE-
YPSOLOPHIDAE-
ZYGAENIDAE-
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Heliozelidae Members:
Antispila cornifoliella
Antispila freemani
Antispila isabella
Antispila nysaefoliella
Antispila unidentified species
Aspilanta argentifera
Aspilanta hydrangaeella
Aspilanta oinophylla
Coptodisca diospyriella
Coptodisca juglandiella
Coptodisca kalmiella
Coptodisca lucifluella
Coptodisca magnella
Coptodisca ostryaefoliella
Coptodisca saliciella
Coptodisca splendoriferella
Coptodisca unidentified species
Heliozela aesella
Coptodisca
Members:
Coptodisca diospyriella
Coptodisca juglandiella
Coptodisca kalmiella
Coptodisca lucifluella
Coptodisca magnella
Coptodisca ostryaefoliella
Coptodisca saliciella
Coptodisca splendoriferella
Coptodisca unidentified species
13 NC Records
Coptodisca diospyriella
(Chambers, 1874) - Persimmon Leaf Miner
view caption
A fresh mine with a nearby larva enclosed in a pupal case made from a leaf cut-out.
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Adeloidea
Family:
Heliozelidae
P3 Number:
210086.00
MONA Number:
244.00
Comments:
This New World genus includes 18 described North American species of small leaf-mining moths, as well as several undescribed species. When mature, the larva cuts a disc of tissue out of the leaf and uses it to form a cocoon. All known species of
Coptodisca
feed on woody plants, and most are restricted to a single plant genus.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions:
Online Photographs:
MPG
,
BugGuide
,
iNaturalist
,
Google
,
BAMONA
,
GBIF
,
BOLD
Technical Description, Adults:
Chambers, 1874.
Technical Description, Immature Stages:
Eiseman, 2019
Adult Markings:
The head, thorax, and ground color of the forewings is silvery white with a faint golden-yellow tinge just before the paired costal streaks. At about three-fourths the wing length there is a matched pair of white, triangular-shaped costal and dorsal streaks with black borders. The dorsal streak is slightly anterior to the costal streak, and both curve slightly posteriorly. A light golden-yellow patch occurs immediately posterior to the costal streak. Posterior to the dorsal streak is an extensive zone of blackish scales that fades into the fringe. A large, fan-shaped apical patch occurs at the end of the wing that contrasts with the surrounding whitish cilia. This species has wing patterning that is similar to several closely related
Coptodisca
that are host-specific. Remarkably few specimens have been collected or reared since the species was described by Chambers in 1874, and there is much to learn about phenotypic variation within the species. Male genitalia of
Coptodisca
are difficult to dissect and embed in a fixed position. However, reliable identification can be achieved by rearing adults from their host plants or through DNA analysis.
Immatures and Development:
The larvae make a very short linear blotch or blotch mines on persimmon leaves. When mature, the larva cuts out an oval pupal case, which leaves a characteristic oval opening in the leaf.
Larvae ID Requirements:
Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
Scattered populations of
Coptodisca diospyriella
have been found in the eastern US, including in New Jersey, Maryland, Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, Alabama and Florida (Eiseman, 2019). As of 2023, we have only a few records for the state that are all based on leaf mines from the eastern Piedmont and Coastal Plain.
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:
The flight season is poorly documented. Individuals appear to be on the wing primarily during the summer months. We have occupied leaf mine from mid-May, which suggests that the adults emerge as early as the first week of May in North Carolina.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Populations in North Carolina use American Persimmon. This species is often found along fencerows, forest edges, or in abandoned fields, but also occurs in bottomland, and in mesic to dry forests.
Larval Host Plants:
Larvae are leaf miners of American Persimmon (
Diospyros virginiana
) (Robinson et al., 2010; Eiseman, 2019) -
View
Observation Methods:
We recommend collecting leaf mines from persimmons and rearing the adults. This is the only
Coptodisca
that mines persimmons in North Carolina, so any mine found on this species can be reliably assigned to
C. diospyriella
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for
Persimmon Copses
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
[GNR] S2S4
State Protection:
Comments:
Photo Gallery for
Coptodisca diospyriella
- Persimmon Leaf Miner
Photos: 17
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-10-26
Pender Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-10-26
Pender Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-09-01
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams on 2023-07-15
Gates Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-07-07
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-04
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-07-02
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-07-02
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2023-05-17
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2023-05-17
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2022-09-13
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-09-12
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-09-12
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-07-15
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-07-15
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-08-09
Richmond Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-08-09
Richmond Co.
Comment: