Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Gracillariidae Members:	Marmara Members:	16 NC Records

Marmara new species 4 - on Acer negundo (undescribed species) - No Common Name

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Taxonomy

Family:
Gracillariidae

Subfamily:
Gracillariinae

Tribe:
[gracillariini]

P3 Number:
0.00

MONA Number:
718.05

Comments: The genus Marmara contains 19 described species from North America and numerous undescribed species. Most species are monophagous, and the mines have been found on over 80 North American plant genera that belong to 40 families (Eiseman et al., 2017). Given the small number of described species relative to the large number of hosts, there appear to be dozens of undescribed species in the US. Many of the species are difficult to rear and are only known from leaf or stem mines. North Carolina appears to have numerous undescribed species based on host preferences and mine characteristics, and Tracy Feldman has spearheaded efforts to document these within the state. We have included Marmara that we believe are probably undescribed species (ca. 30) and have listed these by their host plants. We encourage individuals to submit any leaf or stem mines that they find based on the plant hosts in order to better document the distribution and relative abundance of these forms in North Carolina.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

Online Resources:

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Eiseman (2022)

Adult Markings: This apparently undescribed species is a stem miner on Boxelder, where is make long mines on the younger, green stems. As of 2024, we are unaware of any adults being successfully reared.

Immatures and Development: The larvae appear to specialize on Boxelder and make long, convoluted, whitish mines on the younger green stems that gradually increase in diameter with time. A thin, broken, central frass line is sometimes evident on fresh mines, but usually not evident on older mines. The young larvae are whitish, and presumably turn red just before pupating as seen in most other Marmara species.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Stem mines have been found on Boxelder at several sites in the eastern US, including New Jersey, Maryland, North Carolina and Texas (Eiseman, 2022). As of 2024, we have several records from the eastern Piedmont and one from a lower-elevation site 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

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Local populations are generally found in bottomland floodplains or other moist to wet habitats, and on the lower slopes of rich woods.

Larval Host Plants: Boxelder (Acer negundo) is the only known host.

Observation Methods: Local populations are best documented by searching for the stem mines on the younger, green branches of Boxelder. The adults should be reared, photographed and collected whenever possible.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR[SU]

State Protection:

Comments:

Photo Gallery for Marmara new species 4 - on Acer negundo - No common name

Photos: 14

	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-11-29 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George on 2024-08-19 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-08-04 Orange Co. Comment: A stem mine on Box Elder.		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-10-06 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-24 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Tracy Feldman on 2023-06-07 Durham Co. Comment: unoccupied stem mine on Acer negundo
	Recorded by: David George, Tracy Feldman on 2023-05-16 Orange Co. Comment: on Acer negundo		Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2022-10-10 Durham Co. Comment: Stem mine on Acer negundo, beginning in a leaf petiole--second generation? This mine looks like it could be a couple of weeks old--frass trails are still visible.
	Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2022-10-10 Durham Co. Comment: Stem mine on Acer negundo, beginning in a leaf petiole--second generation? This mine looks like it could be a couple of weeks old--frass trails are still visible.		Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2022-10-10 Durham Co. Comment: Stem mine on Acer negundo, beginning in a leaf petiole--second generation? This mine looks like it could be a couple of weeks old--frass trails are still visible.
	Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2022-08-17 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2022-08-17 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2022-08-17 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2020-07-12 Buncombe Co. Comment: a bark mine that was on Boxelder.