Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFGracillariidae Members:
Marmara Members:
5 NC Records

Marmara new species 18 - on Liquidambar (undescribed species) - No Common Name

Marmara new species 18 - on Liquidambar
view caption 		Marmara new species 18 - on Liquidambar
Taxonomy
Family: GracillariidaeSubfamily: GracillariinaeTribe: [gracillariini]P3 Number: 0.00 MONA Number: 718.19
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 appears to be an undescribed species that mines the stems of Sweetgum.
Immatures and Development: The larvae produce long, narrow, winding mines on the younger stems of Sweetgum. Tracy Feldman found occupied mines in North Carolina in late February and mid-March. The larvae exited their mines to spin cocoons beginning in late March, with two adults emerging in late April and early May (Eiseman, 2022).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: As of 2024, the mines have been found in New Jersey and North Carolina. As of 2024, we have five site records from the eastern Piedmont and western Coastal Plain.
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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