Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFHeliozelidae Members: Coptodisca Members: 25 NC Records

Coptodisca diospyriella (Chambers, 1874) - No Common Name

Coptodisca diospyriellaCoptodisca diospyriellaCoptodisca diospyriella
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Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Adeloidea		 Family:
Heliozelidae		P3 Number:
21a0090		 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 Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical 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.
Coptodisca diospyriellaAlamance 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%20Hanover 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.
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) (Eiseman, 2019), which has been confirmed as the host in North Carolina. - 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 - None

Photos: 30
Coptodisca diospyriellaRecorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-10-30
Pender Co.
Comment: 		Coptodisca diospyriellaRecorded by: David George on 2024-10-21
Durham Co.
Comment:
Coptodisca diospyriellaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-10-17
Montgomery Co.
Comment: 		Coptodisca diospyriellaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-10-16
Rowan Co.
Comment:
Coptodisca diospyriellaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-08
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Coptodisca diospyriellaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-01
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Coptodisca diospyriellaRecorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2024-08-12
Pamlico Co.
Comment: 		Coptodisca diospyriellaRecorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-07-20
Wake Co.
Comment:
Coptodisca diospyriellaRecorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2024-07-15
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Coptodisca diospyriellaRecorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2024-07-15
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Coptodisca diospyriellaRecorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2024-07-15
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Coptodisca diospyriellaRecorded by: Tracy Feldman on 2024-06-21
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Coptodisca diospyriellaRecorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-10-26
Pender Co.
Comment: 		Coptodisca diospyriellaRecorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-10-26
Pender Co.
Comment:
Coptodisca diospyriellaRecorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-09-30
Harnett Co.
Comment: 		Coptodisca diospyriellaRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-09-01
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Coptodisca diospyriellaRecorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams on 2023-07-15
Gates Co.
Comment: 		Coptodisca diospyriellaRecorded by: R. Newman on 2023-07-07
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Coptodisca diospyriellaRecorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-04
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Coptodisca diospyriellaRecorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-07-02
Wake Co.
Comment:
Coptodisca diospyriellaRecorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-07-02
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Coptodisca diospyriellaRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2023-05-17
Moore Co.
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Coptodisca diospyriellaRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2023-05-17
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Coptodisca diospyriellaRecorded by: Mark Shields on 2022-09-13
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Coptodisca diospyriellaRecorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-09-12
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Coptodisca diospyriellaRecorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-09-12
Wake Co.
Comment:
Coptodisca diospyriellaRecorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-07-15
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Coptodisca diospyriellaRecorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-07-15
Wake Co.
Comment:
Coptodisca diospyriellaRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-08-09
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Coptodisca diospyriellaRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-08-09
Richmond Co.
Comment: