Moths of North Carolina
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18 NC Records

Pseudexentera costomaculana (Clemens, 1860) - No Common Name

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tortricoidea Family: TortricidaeSubfamily: OlethreutinaeTribe: EucosminiP3 Number: 621165.00 MONA Number: 3257.00
Species Status: Both P. costomaculana and P. virginiana are primarily whitish-ocherous with a large reddish-brown blotch located along the posterior portion of the costa. The blotch begins near the middle of the costa with a strong bulge that reaches up to the median part of the wing, then tapers and extends posteriorly (Heinrich, 1923; Forbes, 1924). The tapered section often extends to the apex, or may fade to varying degrees before reaching it. In P. costomaculana, the head is creamy-white while the forewing ground is cream-colored. It tends to be uniformly colored throughout with a few scattered dark spots that are concentrated on the basal half. In P. virginiana, the head is solidly ocherous and the ground of the forewing varies from light brown to grayish-brown with substantial darker speckling. In addition, the basal third of the wing is slightly darker than the remainder, which often gives the impression of there being a faint basal patch. Both species has a series of dark strigulae along the costa that are interspersed with lighter areas, boldly banded tarsi, and brown hindwings with a paler fringe.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Immature Stages: MacKay (1962)                                                                                 
Forewing Length: males 6.5 - 8.5 mm; females 7.0 - 8.0 mm (Mil.ler, 1986)
Adult Structural Features: Miller (1986) reported that forewing veins R4 and R5 are either approximate or separate at the origin. Miller (1986) and Gilligan et al. (2008) provide illustrations of the male and female genitalia. In males, the valva is constricted at three-fifths the distance between the base and the apex, the valval length/cucullus length ratio is 2.8 to 2.9, the anal spine is near the middle of the cucullus, and the aedeagus has an unmodified apex (Miller, 1986). In females, the ostium bursae begins one-fourth to one-fifth its width behind the front edge of the sternum, the forward end of the sterigma tapers sharply, the corpus bursae spicule bases are fused on one side near the ductus bursae into a lightly sclerotized patch, and the signa are unequal in size.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larvae roll the leaves of Witch-hazel shortly after the leaves are fully expanded in the spring and skeletonize the tissues from within. They begin at the leaf tip and progressively roll the leaf under while binding it periorically with silk straps. Larvae that we have examined had light greenish-white bodies with a light amber or yellowish head shield.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Pseudexentera costomaculana is restricted to eastern North America. The main range extends from Nova Scotia southwestward primarily through the Appalachian region to eastern Kentucky, West Virginia, western Virginia, western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. Populations have been found as far west as northern Indiana and northern Illinois, and as apparent isolates in the Gulf Coast regions from northern Florid westward through southern Mississippi and Louisiana to east Texas. It is generally absent from most of the Coastal Plain. As of 2022 all but one of our records are from the Blue Ridge where local populations occur at both low and high elevation sites where Witch-hazel is present.
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 adults have been observed from February through July is different areas of the range, with peak activity from April through June. As of 2022, our records extends from early March through early August.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Local populations occur in proximity to Witch-hazel, which occurs in a variety of forest and forest-edge habitats that range from floodplain forests to mesic or somewhat dry upland forests. As of 2022, almost all of our records come from mesic stands of hardwood forest.
Larval Host Plants: The larvae appear to be monophagous feeders on American Witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana; Miller, 1986) - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and the rolled leaves can be found in early spring on Witch-hazel. Rearing may be necessary since other moths also roll Witch-hazel leaves.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Hardwood Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S3S4
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 costomaculana - No common name

Photos: 23

Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-06-14
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2022-05-27
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2022-05-27
Yancey Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-13
Madison Co.
Comment: A leaf roll on Witch-hazel (adult reared).
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-13
Madison Co.
Comment: A larva from a leaf roll on Witch-hazel (adult reared).		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-13
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-04-21
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2021-05-22
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2021-05-22
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-05-21
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-04-12
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-05-15
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-05-15
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2019-05-07
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2019-05-07
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-04-09
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-04-09
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-04-09
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-04-09
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger, P. Scharf on 2015-06-17
Avery Co.
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Recorded by: T. Nergart, ID by J. Lynch on 2015-05-22
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: T. Nergart, ID by J. Lynch on 2015-05-22
Transylvania Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Harry Wilson on 2012-03-04
Wake Co.
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