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

Caloptilia stigmatella (Fabricius, 1781) - No Common Name


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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Gracillarioidea Family: GracillariidaeSubfamily: GracillariinaeTribe: [Gracillariini]P3 Number: 330161.00 MONA Number: 639.00
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.
Species Status: Caloptilia stigmatella is widely distributed in the Holarctic Region, including most of Europe, and eastern and western North America. DNA analyses (BOLD) indicate that there are several major evolutionary lineages that may eventually be recognized as separate species. Populations in North America are genetically distinct from those in Europe.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Chambers, 1872. Technical Description, Immature Stages: Eiseman, 2019.                                                                                  
Adult Markings: The antennae, palps, upper head, thorax, and forewings have a rich, dark brown ground color. Each forewing has a light yellow to yellowish white, triangular costal patch that is usually hooked backwards near the tip. A series of fine dark brown spots are normally present along the costa. The femur and tibia of the front and middle leg are dark brown, while the tarsi are whitish, with darker marks at the tarsal joints. The rear legs are pale, with varying amounts of brown dusting and blotching. This species is variable and was previously treated as two separate species, C. purpuriella and C. stigmatella (Forbes, 1923). Forms that conform to C. purpuriella are grayish brown with a purple iridescence. The triangle is relatively narrow and is concave on both sides. C. stigmatella (sensu stricto) is similar, but has a paler reddish ground color. In addition, the triangle is larger, is not as hooked near the fold, is less concave on the sides, and has less conspicuous dark spotting. Forbes (1923) recognized these as separate species, but most treat them as being conspecific. We have both forms in North Carolina and they tend to sort out seasonally, with 'purpuriella' types flying from October through March, and 'stigmatella' types flying from May through September. It is uncertain whether these reflect seasonal forms of the same species, or two distinct species. Here we treat these as a single species.
Wingspan: 12–14 mm.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larvae initially mine the epidermis on the underside of the leaf and create fairly long tracks that often follow the midrib. The mine track eventually turns towards the leaf margin and expands into a tentiform blotch that is < 1 cm across. The larvae eventually leave the tentiform blotches and create feeding shelters. The shelter may consists of either a simple leaf fold when feeding on poplars, or a leaf roll when feeding on willows with narrower leaves. The folds and leaf rolls can be made on either surface of the leaf. The final instar produces a shiny cocoon on the underside of the leaf (Eiseman, 2019).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Caloptilia stigmatella is widely distributed in the Holarctic Region, including most of Europe, and eastern and western North America. In eastern North America, it occurs throughout much of southeastern Canada and the eastern US, with populations becoming more scattered towards the southern areas of the range. This species appears to occur statewide in North Carolina.
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)

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