Moths of North Carolina
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Scientific Name:
Common Name:
Family (Alpha):
ACROLEPIIDAE-
ADELIDAE-
AMPHISBATIDAE-
AUTOSTICHIDAE-
BATRACHEDRIDAE-
BEDELLIIDAE-
BLASTOBASIDAE-
BOMBYCIDAE-
BUCCULATRICIDAE-
CARPOSINIDAE-
CHOREUTIDAE-
COLEOPHORIDAE-
COSMOPTERIGIDAE-
COSSIDAE-
CRAMBIDAE-
DEPRESSARIIDAE-
DREPANIDAE-
ELACHISTIDAE-
EPERMENIIDAE-
EPIPYROPIDAE-
EREBIDAE-Erebid Moths
ERIOCRANIIDAE-
EUTELIIDAE-
GALACTICIDAE-
GELECHIIDAE-
GEOMETRIDAE-
GLYPHIDOCERIDAE-
GLYPHIPTERIGIDAE-
GRACILLARIIDAE-
HELIOZELIDAE-
HEPIALIDAE-
HYBLAEIDAE-
INCURVARIIDAE-
LASIOCAMPIDAE-
LECITHOCERIDAE-Long-horned Moths
LIMACODIDAE-
LYONETIIDAE-
MEGALOPYGIDAE-Flannel Moths
MICROPTERIGIDAE-
MIMALLONIDAE-
MOMPHIDAE-Mompha Moths
NEPTICULIDAE-
NOCTUIDAE-Owlet Moths
NOLIDAE-
NOTODONTIDAE-
OECOPHORIDAE-
OPOSTEGIDAE-
PELEOPODIDAE-
PLUTELLIDAE-
PRODOXIDAE-
PSYCHIDAE-Bagworm Moths
PTEROPHORIDAE-
PYRALIDAE-
SATURNIIDAE-Saturniids
SCHRECKENSTEINIIDAE-
SESIIDAE-
SPHINGIDAE-Sphinx Moths
THYATIRIDAE-
THYRIDIDAE-
TINEIDAE-
TISCHERIIDAE-
TORTRICIDAE-
URANIIDAE-
URODIDAE-
XYLORYCTIDAE-
YPONOMEUTIDAE-
YPSOLOPHIDAE-
ZYGAENIDAE-
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Gracillariidae Members:
Acrocercops albinatella
Acrocercops astericola
Acrocercops unidentified species
Anarsioses aberrans
Aristaea pennsylvaniella
Caloptilia alnivorella
Caloptilia azaleella
Caloptilia belfragella
Caloptilia bimaculatella
Caloptilia blandella
Caloptilia cornusella
Caloptilia coroniella
Caloptilia flavella
Caloptilia glutinella
Caloptilia hypericella
Caloptilia invariabilis
Caloptilia juglandiella
Caloptilia negundella
Caloptilia ostryaeella
Caloptilia packardella
Caloptilia paradoxum
Caloptilia porphyretica
Caloptilia rhoifoliella
Caloptilia sassafrasella
Caloptilia serotinella
Caloptilia stigmatella
Caloptilia superbifrontella
Caloptilia triadicae
Caloptilia umbratella
Caloptilia unidentified species
Caloptilia violacella
Cameraria aceriella
Cameraria aesculisella
Cameraria arcuella
Cameraria bethunella
Cameraria betulivora
Cameraria caryaefoliella
Cameraria castaneaeella
Cameraria cincinnatiella
Cameraria conglomeratella
Cameraria corylisella
Cameraria fletcherella
Cameraria guttifinitella
Cameraria hamadryadella
Cameraria hamameliella
Cameraria lentella
Cameraria macrocarpella
Cameraria obstrictella
Cameraria ostryarella
Cameraria picturatella
Cameraria quercivorella
Cameraria saccharella
Cameraria tubiferella
Cameraria ulmella
Cameraria unidentified species
Chrysaster ostensackenella
Cremastobombycia ignota
Cremastobombycia solidaginis
Cremastobombycia unidentified species
Cryptolectica strigosa
Leucanthiza amphicarpeaefoliella
Leucospilapteryx unidentified species
Leucospilapteryx venustella
Macrosaccus morrisella
Macrosaccus robiniella
Macrosaccus uhlerella
Marmara apocynella
Marmara auratella
Marmara fasciella
Marmara fraxinicola
Marmara new species 1 - on Symplocos
Marmara new species 10 - on Benthamidia and Swida
Marmara new species 11 - on Dysphania or Chenopodium
Marmara new species 12 - on Euphorbia
Marmara new species 13 - on Gardenia
Marmara new species 14 - on Gelsemium
Marmara new species 15 - on Ilex spp.
Marmara new species 16 - on Impatiens
Marmara new species 17 - on Iva spp.
Marmara new species 18 - on Liquidambar
Marmara new species 19 - on Morella
Marmara new species 2 - on Clematis
Marmara new species 20 - on Nyssa
Marmara new species 21 - on Oxydendrum leaf
Marmara new species 22 - on Oxydendrum stem
Marmara new species 23 - on Passiflora
Marmara new species 24 - on Quercus alba
Marmara new species 25 - on Quercus margaretiae and virginiana
Marmara new species 26 - on Rosa
Marmara new species 27 - on Senna
Marmara new species 28 - on Ulmus
Marmara new species 29 - on Vaccinium
Marmara new species 3 - on Acer spp.
Marmara new species 4 - on Acer negundo
Marmara new species 5 - on Borrichia
Marmara new species 6 - on Carpinus
Marmara new species 7 - on Ostrya
Marmara new species 8 - on Carya spp.
Marmara new species 9 - on Cercis
Marmara serotinella
Marmara smilacisella
Marmara unidentified species
Marmara viburnella
Micrurapteryx salicifoliella
Neurobathra strigifinitella
Neurobathra unidentified species
New genus and species near Neurobathra
Parectopa lespedezaefoliella
Parectopa plantaginisella
Parectopa robiniella
Parectopa unidentified species
Parornix geminatella
Parornix obliterella
Parornix preciosella
Parornix unidentified species
Parornix vicinella
Phyllocnistis ampelopsiella
Phyllocnistis hyperpersea
Phyllocnistis insignis
Phyllocnistis liquidambarisella
Phyllocnistis liriodendronella
Phyllocnistis New Species one
Phyllocnistis subpersea
Phyllocnistis unidentified species
Phyllocnistis vitegenella
Phyllocnistis vitifoliella
Phyllonorycter aeriferella
Phyllonorycter albanotella
Phyllonorycter argentifimbriella
Phyllonorycter argentinotella
Phyllonorycter auronitens
Phyllonorycter basistrigella
Phyllonorycter caryaealbella
Phyllonorycter celtifoliella
Phyllonorycter celtisella
Phyllonorycter crataegella
Phyllonorycter diversella
Phyllonorycter fitchella
Phyllonorycter intermixta
Phyllonorycter lucetiella
Phyllonorycter lucidicostella
Phyllonorycter maestingella
Phyllonorycter mariaeella
Phyllonorycter martiella
Phyllonorycter New Species one
Phyllonorycter obscuricostella
Phyllonorycter occitanica
Phyllonorycter ostryaefoliella
Phyllonorycter propinquinella
Phyllonorycter quercialbella
Phyllonorycter rhododendrella
Phyllonorycter salicifoliella
Phyllonorycter scudderella
Phyllonorycter tiliacella
Phyllonorycter trinotella
Phyllonorycter unidentified species
Phyllonorycter viburnella
Porphyrosela desmodiella
Porphyrosela minuta
Porphyrosela unidentified species
Povolnya quercinigrella
Telamoptilia hibiscivora
Acrocercops
Members:
Acrocercops albinatella
Acrocercops astericola
Acrocercops unidentified species
20 NC Records
Acrocercops astericola
(Frey & Boll, 1873) - Aster Tentiform Blotchminer
view caption
A reared adult. This specimen is exceptionally dark.
view caption
As seen here, the completed mine consists of a rather long, convoluted, linear greenish to yellowish portion that rapidly expands to form a large blotch.
view caption
A reared adult.
view caption
A final instar larva from a mine on Eurybia divaricata.
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Gracillarioidea
Family:
Gracillariidae
Subfamily:
Gracillariinae
Tribe:
[Gracillariini]
P3 Number:
33a0408
MONA Number:
692.00
Comments:
The genus
Acrocercops
includes six recognized species in North America. Four of these are misapplied, including
Acrocercops astericola
, but the correct genus to assign them to has not been determined. The genus name is sometimes placed in quotation marks (“Acrocercops” astericola) to indicate the misapplied name. The adults of most species are rather boldly marked, and the larvae are leaf miners that produce linear blotch mines (Pohl and Nanz, 2023).
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions:
Online Resources:
MPG
,
BugGuide
,
iNaturalist
,
Google
,
BAMONA
,
GBIF
,
BOLD
Technical Description, Immature Stages:
Eiseman, 2019
Adult Markings:
The following is based in part on Forbes (1923). The head and thorax vary from white to light tan, and the palps are whitish, with a dark blotch often evident near the middle. The eyes are reddish. The antenna is white with dark annulations, and about as long as the forewing. The ground color of the forewing is luteous with heavy brown dusting. The forewing has a series of either paired white blotches and streaks, or complete fascias, all with blackish anterior margins. These typically include a pair of small costal and dorsal blotches just before the mid-point of the wing, a complete or nearly complete fascia just beyond the mid-point that terminates just before the inner margin, and two thinner and smaller fascias (sometimes incomplete) just before the wing tip. At the apex there is a white spot with a dark anterior margin. The fringe has two dark bars that parallel the base of the fringe. The legs are light tan with darker bands and blotches. The upper portions of the front and middle legs are heavily marked with black, while the lower tarsi are whitish with small black blotches near the joints. Adults often posture with the front of the body strongly elevated above the substrate.
Leucospilapteryx venustella
is superficially similar to
Acrocercops astericola
, but the latter lacks a well-defined white streak that extends along the inner margin from the base to near the first dorsal blotch.
Wingspan:
9 mm (Forbes, 1923).
Adult ID Requirements:
Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development:
The larvae mine the leaves of asters. The hatchling initially produces a rather long, convoluted, linear greenish to yellowish epidermal mine on the underside of the leaf (visible from above). This then expands abruptly into a large blotch that has scattered frass. The blotch is often yellowish and later becomes patchily full-depth and often puffy (Eiseman, 2019). The mature larvae are bright red and pupation occurs externally within an elongated cocoon.
Larvae ID Requirements:
Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
Acrocercops astericola
is widely distributed in North America. Most records are from eastern North America, including southern Canada (Ontario; Quebec) and much of the eastern US, but populations also occur in western Canada (British Columbia; Alberta) and Colorado. In the eastern US, the range extends from the northeastern states to as far south as northern Florida, and as far west as Wisconsin, Oklahoma and Texas. As of 2021, our records are from the eastern Piedmont and the mid- to higher elevations in the Blue Ridge.
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:
Adults or occupied mines have been found from March-October in this wide-ranging species. Local populations typically breed after asters have fully leafed out. As of 2021, our records for mines are from June through October.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
This species uses a variety of asters that are found in both mesic forests and forest edges, as well as more open, sunny habitats. Representative habitats include mesic hardwood and mixed-hardwood forests, the edges of woodlands and forest roads, and moist to somewhat drier habitats in sunny sites such as abandoned agricultural fields, ditches, and road corridors.
Larval Host Plants:
The larvae mine the leaves of a variety of asters, including species of
Doellingeria
,
Eurybia
,
Oclemena
,
Symphyotrichum
and
Euthamia
. Some of the known hosts include Tall Flat-top Aster (
Doellingeria umbellata
), White Wood-aster (
Eurybia divaricata
), Bigleaf Aster (
E. macrophylla
), Grass-leaved Flat-top Goldenrod (
Euthamia graminifolia
), Whorled Wood-aster (
Oclemena acuminata
), Heartleaf Aster (
Symphyotrichum cordifolium
), White Panicle Aster (
S. lanceolatum
), Calico Aster (
S. lateriflorum
), New England Aster (
S. novae-angliae
), New York Aster (
S. novi-belgii
) and Purplestem Aster (
S. puniceum
) (Eiseman, 2022). As of 2021, we have records for Mountain Wood-aster (
Eurybia chlorolepis
),
E. divaricata
,
Symphyotrichum cordifolium
, and
S. undulatum
. -
View
Observation Methods:
The adults regularly visit UV lights. The leaf mines are rather conspicuous on native asters and the adults have been successfully reared from mines.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for
General Forests and Fields
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
GNR S2S3
State Protection:
Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:
It can be locally common at mid- to higher elevations in the mountains and is probably more widespread than our limited records suggest.
Photo Gallery for
Acrocercops astericola
- Aster Tentiform Blotchminer
Photos: 24
Recorded by: tom ward on 2024-04-15
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-08-21
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-08-21
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-09-18
Yancey Co.
Comment: Occupied mines were on Eurybia chlorolepis; larvae red.
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-09-18
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-08-17
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and John Petranka on 2022-08-09
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-07-20
Mitchell Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-14
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-03-14
Buncombe Co.
Comment: A reared adult from Symphyotrichum cordifolium; mine on Oct 26, 2021; adult emerged on March 14, 2022.
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-03-14
Buncombe Co.
Comment: A reared adult from Symphyotrichum cordifolium; mine on Oct 26, 2021; adult emerged on March 14, 2022.
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-03-06
Yancey Co.
Comment: An adult that emerged from an overwintering mine that was collected on Oct 14, 2021 (see companion photo of the mine).
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-10-25
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-10-14
McDowell Co.
Comment: Occupied mines were on Eurybia divaricata.
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-10-14
McDowell Co.
Comment: Occupied mines were on Eurybia divaricata.
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-10-14
McDowell Co.
Comment: A final instar larva from a mine on Eurybia divaricata.
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-10-14
Yancey Co.
Comment: See adult that emerged after on 2022-03-06 after overwintering in refrigerator.
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-10-14
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-10-11
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-08-30
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-08-26
Yancey Co.
Comment: An unoccupied mine on Eurybia chlorolepis.
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-06-27
Buncombe Co.
Comment: Mines were very common on Symphyotrichum cordifolium and S. undulatum. Most had a linear portion that ballooned out into a vary large, puffy, full-depth blotch.
Recorded by: Harry Wilson on 2013-08-31
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger on 2013-08-27
Wake Co.
Comment: