Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Tineidae Members:	Xylesthia Members:	71 NC Records

Xylesthia pruniramiella Clemens, 1859 - Clemens' Bark Moth

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Tineoidea

Family:
Tineidae

Subfamily:
Tineidae-unplaced

Tribe:
[Tineidae-unplaced]

P3 Number:
300223

MONA Number:
317.00

Other Common Name:
Speckled Xylesthia Moth

Comments: Xylesthia is a small genus with only two currently recognized species; both are found in North America.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)

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

Technical Description, Adults: Clemens (1859); Dietz (1905)

Adult Markings: The following is based in part of the description by Clemens (1859) and Dietz (1905). The head is grayish white to whitish with a conspicuous tuft. The labial palp is ascending, and the second joint has a dense brush of coarse hair beneath that projects forward to produce a 'beaked' appearance. The antenna is light brown to yellowish white and about two-thirds the length of the forewing, while the thorax is grayish white and dusted with brown. The forewing has a patchwork of blackish brown, yellowish brown, and cream to whitish dusting that on some specimens has a reddish hue. The pattern of dark dusting is variable, but tends to be concentrated on the costal half just beyond one-half the wing length, and in the sub-terminal region where it is often represented as one or two spots. There are three or four equally spaced fascia-like lines of raised scales that run from the inner margin to the costa. Each consists of a relatively large, circular tuft of scales at the inner margin and a row of smaller raised scales that continues from the tuft towards the costa. These may be missing or poorly formed on worn specimens and appear as whitish lines. The fringe is fuscous and has two or three darker dividing lines. The region at the inner angle is often whitish and contrast with the remainder of the fringe. The hindwing and abdomen are dark brown. The legs are yellowish white and dusted with fuscous, and the tarsal joints are pale at the apex.

Wingspan: 12.0-18.0 mm (Dietz, 1905).

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: Clemens (1859) observed the larvae feeding within woody stem galls on domesticated plums. The larvae actively bored into the gall tissue where they overwintered. They resume feeding in the spring and the adults emerged in June. The larvae were dull white with brown heads and thoracic shields.

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Xylesthia pruniramiella is widely distributed across the eastern and central US. Populations also occur in extreme southern Canada (Manitoba; Ontario; Quebec), eastern Mexico, and as scattered populations in Arizona, Colorado, and southern California. This species occurs statewide in North Carolina, but is most prevalent in the Piedmont.

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
Flight Comments: Adults have been recorded from March through November in areas outside of North Carolina, with most from June through August. As of 2020, our records extend from mid-May through mid-September, with no evidence of a strong seasonal peak in breeding activity.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: The preferred habitats are poorly documented. The larvae appear to feed on fungi that infect trees. Our records are from both semi-wooded neighborhoods and natural sites that are forested.

Larval Host Plants: The larvae appear to be fungivores. Clemens (1859) found the larvae feeding within woody galls on the European Plum (Prunus domestica), and it is likely that they feed on other fungi that attack dead or dying trees. It is uncertain whether this species is a specialist on members of the Rosaceae, or if it uses a broader array of host species. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.

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: This species appears to be widespread and abundant in the state.

Photo Gallery for Xylesthia pruniramiella - Clemens' Bark Moth

77 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

	Recorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams on 2025-05-01 Gates Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Kevin Bischof on 2024-08-07 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-07-31 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-07-26 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-21 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-06-30 Graham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-06-26 Graham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-26 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-16 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-16 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-09-14 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-09-04 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-09-01 Davidson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Steve Hall, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-22 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-07-12 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-05-22 Davidson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2023-05-21 New Hanover Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-05-04 Pender Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-10-11 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2022-08-19 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stefanie Hedrick on 2022-08-04 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-07-06 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-21 Guilford Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-10 Guilford Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-10 Guilford Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-05-22 Guilford Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-05-15 Guilford Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2021-09-29 Cumberland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2021-09-29 Cumberland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2021-09-29 Cumberland Co. Comment: