Moths of North Carolina

Scientific Name:	Common Name:		Family (Alpha): Choose a Family

Home

View PDF	Heliozelidae Members:	Coptodisca Members:	10 NC Records

Coptodisca magnella Braun, 1916 - No Common Name

view caption

Taxonomy

Family:
Heliozelidae

P3 Number:
21a0094

MONA Number:
249.00

Comments: Coptodisca matheri is a species that was described from material from Mississippi (LaFontaine, 1974) that may be synonymous with C. magnella. The two species are nearly identical based on coloration and patterning, and a partial barcode of the holotype of C. matheri that was obtained by Erik van Nieukerken matches that of a specimen of C. magnella. More work needs to be done on the taxonomic relationships of the ericaceous-feeding Coptodisca, but until these are resolved we are currently treating all of the North Carolina specimens as C. magnella, with C. matheri a synonym of C. magnella.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

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

Technical Description, Adults: Braun (1916)

Adult Markings: The following is based on the original description by Braun (1916) for specimens from Ohio. The palps and lower part of the face are silvery white, while the head has a pale golden luster. The antenna is fuscous, and the thorax and basal half of the forewing is pale silvery gray. The extreme costa on the basal half of the wing is black and fades away near the middle. The apical half of the forewing is golden yellow with a triangular, silvery-white spot at the apical third of the costa that is edged with black on both sides. A similar but narrower silvery triangular spot with black edging is present on the inner margin just slightly anterior to the first. The outer edge of the triangular spot on the inner margin forms part of a dark patch of scales that extends from it to the inner margin and termen. This patch is often pale gray and ill-defined, except at its outer edge, which is marked by a row of dark scales along the termen. It is separated from the dark margins of the costal silvery spot by the golden ground color. Beyond the costal spot and almost parallel to its outer margin is a streak of black scales that is followed by a prominent, wedge-shaped apical patch. The patch is formed from a circular velvety black spot and the terminal row of black scales immediately beyond it. It is preceded and edged on either side with one or two silvery white scales, and is well separated from the dark dorsal patch by the golden yellow ground color. The cilia are whitish yellow, with an apical black pencil extending outward from the apical black patch. The hindwing is gray, and the legs yellow, except for the fore tibia and all of the tarsi, which are fuscous. The abdomen is fuscous above and yellow beneath.

Wingspan: 5-6 mm (Braun, 1916).

Immatures and Development: Braun (1916) noted that the mine is similar to those of other Coptodisca in that it starts as a narrow linear mine which abruptly enlarges into a semitransparent blotch (10 mm by 3-4 mm wide). When finished feeding, the larva cuts out an elliptical case and attached it by a silken band to a leaf or twig. Mines that Braun (1916) collected on August 21, 1914 produced adults on May 10th-17th of the following year.

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Coptodisca magnella is known from southern Ohio, eastern Kentucky and eastern North Carolina. As of 2023, all of our records are from the southern Coastal Plain, except for one eastern Piedmont record.

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, with records from May through September in Ohio, Kentucky and North Carolina. Tracy Feldman reared two adults that emerged on July 12 and September 10, and we have occupied mine records from late-May through mid-August as of 2023.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Local populations are generally restricted to acidic habitats where the ericaceous host plants are present.

Larval Host Plants: Braun (1916) reared specimens from Black Huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata) in Ohio, while Tracy Feldman has reared adults in North Carolina from both Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum) and Dangleberry (Gaylussacia frondosa). - View

Observation Methods: We recommend looking for mines on species of Vaccinium and Gaylussacia and rearing the adults.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S2-S3]

State Protection:

Comments: This species appears to be uncommon throughout its restricted range, including in North Carolina. More information is needed on host specificity and the taxonomic status of populations in North Carolina (see above) before we can accurately assess the conservation status of this species within the state.

Photo Gallery for Coptodisca magnella - None

Photos: 18

	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-15 Scotland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-15 Scotland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Tracy Feldman on 2023-12-01 Wake Co. Comment: Old mine on Vaccinium arboreum.		Recorded by: Tracy Feldman on 2023-12-01 Wake Co. Comment: Old mine on Vaccinium arboreum.
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-18 New Hanover Co. Comment: Old mine on Vaccinium arboreum.		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-18 New Hanover Co. Comment: Old mines on Vaccinium arboreum.
	Recorded by: Tracy Feldman on 2023-05-30 Moore Co. Comment: An occupied mine on Gaylussacia frondosa.		Recorded by: Tracy Feldman on 2023-05-30 Moore Co. Comment: An occupied mine on Gaylussacia frondosa.
	Recorded by: Tracy Feldman on 2023-05-30 Moore Co. Comment: An occupied mine on Gaylussacia frondosa.		Recorded by: Tracy Feldman on 2021-08-18 Scotland Co. Comment: An unoccupied mine on Gaylussacia frondosa.
	Recorded by: Tracy Feldman on 2021-08-18 Scotland Co. Comment: An unoccupied mine on Gaylussacia frondosa.		Recorded by: Tracy Feldman on 2021-06-22 Bladen Co. Comment: An occupied mine on Gaylussacia frondosa; adult was reared and emerged 7/12/21.
	Recorded by: Tracy Feldman on 2021-06-22 Bladen Co. Comment: An occupied mine on Gaylussacia frondosa; adult was reared and emerged on 7/12/21.		Recorded by: Tracy Feldman on 2021-06-22 Bladen Co. Comment: From an occupied mine on Gaylussacia frondosa; adult was reared and emerged on 7/12/21.
	Recorded by: Tracy Feldman on 2020-11-08 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Tracy Feldman on 2020-08-17 Scotland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Tracy Feldman on 2020-08-17 Scotland Co. Comment: An occupied mine on Vaccinium arborescens; adult was reared from this one by 9/10/2020.		Recorded by: Tracy Feldman on 2020-08-17 Scotland Co. Comment: A leaf cut-out from Vaccinium arborescens; adult was reared from this one by 9/10/2020.