Moths of North Carolina
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Pseudexentera Members:
3 NC Records

Pseudexentera maracana (Kearfott, 1907) - No Common Name

No image for this species.
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tortricoidea Family: TortricidaeSubfamily: OlethreutinaeTribe: EucosminiP3 Number: 621161.00 MONA Number: 3254.00
Comments: The genus Pseudexentera currently has 19 recognized species that are found primarily in North and Central America, with 17 recognized species in the US. They are typically found in forested settings and most fly very early in the year. Many are challenging to identify, particularly the species with fasciate forewing patterns that often show substantial intraspecific variation in patterning and have slight differences in genitalia (Miller, 1968; Gilligan et al., 2008). There has been a long history of misidentified species in the group (Miller, 1968) and there is still much confusion about external traits that are useful in sorting out certain closely related forms. DNA barcoding has not proven to be particularly useful in sorting out species since recognized species often have two or more BINS that contain multiple species names. This likely reflects weak genetic differentiation between certain forms and the large numbers of misidentified specimens in collections. Miller (1968) conducted a taxonomic revision and reviewed all of the recognized species in North America, but did not provide detailed descriptions of external coloration, patterning, or intraspecific variation within species. Here, we treat our assignment of the fasciate specimens to species as provisional since they are based on images or pinned specimens that have not been barcoded or dissected to examine genitalia. Even with the latter, specimens cannot always be confidently assigned to species.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Kearfott's (1907b)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following description is based in part of Kearfott's (1907b) original description. The head and palps vary from grayish to brown and the antenna is blackish. The thorax is variable, but often has an admixture of lighter and darker mottling of various shades of gray or brown. The ground color of the forewing is whitish-gray and is dusted with darker gray or brown. The ground is overlain with two darker regions. The first is a well-defined dark region on the basal one-third of the wing that extends from the costa to the dorsal margin. It often is represented as a brownish or grayish-brown patch with darker, irregular streaks within. The patch typically has a thin, dark, outer margin that contrasts with the lighter adjoining ground. The second is a complete dark fascia or band that begins at the middle of the costa and extends obliquely outward to the dorsal margin at about two-thirds. The band varies from being predominantly dark brown or dark gray throughout to having irregular dark margins with lighter mottling or striations within. The costa has a series of dark, oblique lines that are interspersed with lighter regions and that become larger and wider towards the apex. The apex has a dark spot, and the costal half of the subterminal region tends to be darker and more blotched than the dorsal half. The fringe tends to be gray inwardly and darker outwardly. The hindwing is light smoky brown with paler cilia that have dark basal line. The legs are yellowish-white with conspicuous darker banding.
Wingspan: 14-16.5 mm (Kearfott, 1907b).
Forewing Length: 7.0-7.5 mm for males and 6.0-7.0 mm for females.
Adult Structural Features: Miller (1986) found that forewing veins R4 and R5 were usually (95%) stalked or connate at the origin, and rarely (5%) approximate. Miller (1986) and Gilligan et al. (2008) have descriptions and illustrations of the male and female genitalia. In males, the valva is constricted approximately at the middle, the valvaI length/cucullus length ratio is 1.6 to 1.8, the anal spine is near the lower edge of the cucullus, the lower edge of the cucullus lacks projections, and the aedeagus has a falcate apex (Miller, 1986). In females, the ostium bursae begins one-half to one and one-half its width behind the front edge of the sternum, the forward end of the sterigma tapers gradually if at all, the corpus bursae spicule bases are not fused into a sclerotized patch, and the signa are unequal or subequal in size.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larvae fold and bind the leaves of hawthorns, but detailed information on the larval life history has not been reported.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Pseudexentera maracana is found is eastern North America and in southern Canada to as far west as Alberta and British Columbia (Pohl et al., 2018). In the east, the range extends from the New England states and adjoining areas of southern Canada westwards through the Great Lakes region to Minnesota. It extends southward mostly through the Appalachian region to Tennessee and North Carolina. Apparent disjuncts have been found in Oklahoma and Texas. Miller (1986) examined specimens from Quebec, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas. As of 2022 we have only two site records and both are from 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: Local populations are univoltine. The adults fly during the spring leaf-out with a seasonal peak typically in March-May depending on the latitude. Miller (1986) documented adults from 30 January to 15 May. As of 2022, our two site records are from March and April.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The larvae feed on hawthorns and local poputations are generally associated with forested habitats. Our two site records as of 2022 are both from residential neighborhoods in the Piedmont.
Larval Host Plants: The larvae are known to feed on hawthorns (Crataegus spp.; Miller, 1986), but information on host use is very limited and needs additional study. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Pseudexentera maracana - No common name

Photos: 3

Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-04-17
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-04-17
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2020-03-01
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: