Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFGracillariidae Members:
Caloptilia Members:
20 NC Records

Caloptilia packardella (Chambers, 1872) - No Common Name

Caloptilia packardellaCaloptilia packardellaCaloptilia packardellaCaloptilia packardella
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Gracillarioidea Family: GracillariidaeSubfamily: GracillariinaeTribe: [Gracillariini]P3 Number: 33a0188 MONA Number: 620.00
Comments: Caloptilia is a large genus with nearly 300 described species; 64 species have been described in North America north of Mexico. The larvae begin as leaf-mining sap-feeders, but the latter instars usually exit the mines and feed within a conical roll that begins at the leaf apex or at the tip of a leaf lobe.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Chambers 1872; Forbes, 1923.                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The ground color of the forewings varies from light orange to darker shades of orangish brown. The most distinctive feature of this species is a large, yellowish golden, equilateral triangular patch on the forewing that reaches nearly to the inner margin. The base of the wing, upper thorax, upper head and cilia are shaded with pale golden coloration. The face and palps are white, except for the joints of the palps that are tipped with golden coloration. Some specimens also exhibit a narrow yellowish-golden band that extends along the costa from the triangular patch to just before the apex (Chambers 1872; Forbes, 1923).
Wingspan: 12 mm (Forbes, 1923)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larva initially forms a short, linear mine that is abandoned early in development. They then form a conical feeding structure by rolling the leaf downward. Pupation is usually on the ground (Eiseman, 2019).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Caloptilia packardella ranges from the Great Lakes region, the northeastern US, and adjoining areas of southern Canada, south and southwestward to Kentucky, eastern Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina. As of 2019, we have records from only three counties in NC, including one from the Blue Ridge and two from Piedmont counties.
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: The flight season is poorly documented in North Carolina, with limited adult records from only July and August.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Larval Host Plants: Sugar Maple (A. saccharum) is the primary native host species in eastern North America. Females also oviposit on Norway Maple (A. platanoides), which is an invasive species in the eastern US and in western North Carolina. Tracy Feldman found leaf mines on Florida Maple (A. floridanum) in Wake Co., which suggest that this species may be the primary host for populations that occur east of the Blue Ridge. - View
Observation Methods: This species is attracted to UV lights. Local populations are perhaps best documented by finding the rolled, conical feeding shelters on Sugar Maple and Florida Maple and rearing the adults.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Rich Wet-Mesic Hardwood Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S2S4
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Caloptilia packardella - No common name

Photos: 23

Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-12
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-08-09
Watauga Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-07-17
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-07-07
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-30
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, L.M. Carlson, Becky Watkins on 2022-06-09
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-05
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-05-30
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-05-30
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-11
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-05-02
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-05-06
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-05-06
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2021-04-26
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-04-18
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-04-18
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-04-18
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-04-10
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-07-18
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-05-16
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-08-16
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-08-16
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-07-25
Madison Co.
Comment: