Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Nepticulidae Members:	Stigmella Members:	41 NC Records

Stigmella rhoifoliella (Braun, 1912) - No Common Name

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Nepticuloidea

Family:
Nepticulidae

P3 Number:
16a0009

MONA Number:
73.00

Comments: Members of the genus Stigmella are a group of small leaf-mining moths that typically create linear mines, although a few species form linear-blotch or blotch mines. Newton and Wilkinson (1982) recognized 51 species in their revision on the North American fauna, and new discoveries have since raised the total to around 57 species. Almost all species are specialists and rarely use more than one genus of host plants. Host-specificity, mine characteristics, and genitalic differences are helpful in recognizing closely related forms that are externally similar.

Species Status: DNA barcode data suggest S. rhoifoliella may represent two species (Eiseman, 2019), but more detailed studies are needed to determine the species status of these genetically divergent groups. Newton and Wilkinson (1982) noted that the relationship between S. rhoifoliella and S. intermedia is extremely close. These species show slight but consistent morphological differences, have different host plants (but use the same genus), and have been collected at different times of the year. They could not confidently rule out that these differences might be due to seasonal variation, or phenotypic plasticity associated with using different host plants.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Braun, 1912, 1917.

Adult Markings: The following description is based on Braun (1912, 1917) and Newton and Wilkinson (1982). The palps are grayish. The antenna is black and the eye-cap is silvery white. The tufts and collar are dark brown to blackish. The head is black and the thorax is blackish purple. The forewing ground color is dark brown and very lustrous, with deep reddish bronze reflections when viewed at certain angles. There is a large semi-elliptical shining golden patch of scales just beyond the base of the wing that rest on the dorsum, but does not reach to the extreme costa. The patch is deep brilliant golden, but shades along its edges into reddish bronze. This patch, while it does not appear as a well-defined marking, is nevertheless distinctly differentiated from the rest of the wing. Beyond this the wing is deep purple with reddish bronze reflections. At three-fifths the wing length there is a straight shining silvery or pale golden fascia. The hindwing and cilia are gray. The legs are black, except for the tibiae and tarsi of the middle pair, which are silvery. The abdomen is blackish above and somewhat paler beneath. The golden patch of scales, which stands out even to the naked eye as paler and more lustrous than the remainder of the wing, immediately identifies this species.

Wingspan: 3.5 mm (Braun, 1017).

Adult Structural Features: The following description of the genitalia is from Newton and Wilkinson (1982). Males: The uncus is bilobed, in the form of a bridge, and with each lobe broad and pointed. The gnathos is broadly U-shaped and the transverse ventral plate is narrow. The posteriorly-directed lateral arms are widely spaced, are broad basally, and taper. The dorsolateral arms are folded and with short anteriorly-directed processes. The tegumen is a narrow strap-like plate with a weakly serrate posterior margin and with a spinose membrane lying ventrally to the uncus and tegumen. The vinculum has broad lateral arms that taper markedly and articulate with the tegumen at the dorsal extremities. The saccus is deeply bilobed. The valve is broad basally, but tapers markedly and reaches beyond the uncus. The inner surface is concave. The transtilla has lateral arms that are very long. The transverse bars are narrow, pointed and at a right-angle to the lateral arms; these meet but do not fuse. The juxta is a Y-shaped plate that is heavily sclerotized basally and along the margins. The aedeagus is narrow and regular in width, and half the length of the genital capsule. The vesica has cornuti as many small denticles with larger spines posteriorly, and with a bearded rectangular plate of minute papillae. Females: The ductus bursae is long and narrow. The accessory sac is small with a reticulate patch medially and with a duct arising proximally. The bursa copulatrix is large and covered with weakly sclerotized chains of pectinations. The signum is absent. The anterior apophyses are broad basally, tapering, and are slightly arcuate. The posterior apophyses are straight, of medium width, and reach beyond the anterior apophyses.

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: The egg is laid on the upper leaf surface, and the larva makes a contorted serpentine mine on the upper surface of the leaf. The loosened epidermis is pale brownish yellow, and the frass is dispersed throughout the entire breadth of the mine. The larva eventually emerges through the upper epidermis and spins a reddish-brown cocoon (Braun, 1917; Eiseman, 2019).

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Stigmella rhoifoliella is broadly distributed in southeastern Canada (Ontario; Quebec) and throughout much of the eastern US where Poison-ivy occurs. Populations occur as far west as Minnesota and Oklahoma, and as far south as Florida and Mississippi. As of 2020, our records range from the Inner Coastal Plain to the lower Mountains.

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: Braun (1917) noted that there are three generations per year in southern Ohio. Mature larvae first appear in June and occupied mines can be found through September.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Local populations are found in association with Poison-ivy, which can be found in a variety of habitats that range from open fields, roadsides, and woodland paths, to bottomland forests and rich mesic woods.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae mine the leaves of Toxicodendron, with Poison-ivy (T. radicans) being the primary host (Forbes, 1923; Eiseman, 2022). In North Carolina, mines are common on Poison-ivy, but Tracy Feldman also recorded a mine on Atlantic Poison-oak (T. pubescens). - View

Observation Methods: This species rarely if ever visits lights and most records are based on images of the leaf mines on Poison-ivy. There are remarkably few adults records for this species, so we encourage moth enthusiasts to rear and photograph the adults.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Sumac Thickets and Poison Ivy Tangles

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S3S4

State Protection:

Comments: Stigmella rhoifoliella is probably more common that our limited records suggest, since little effort have been put forth to document leafminers in North Carolina. We currently do not have sufficient information on the distribution and abundance of this species to assess its conservation status.

Photo Gallery for Stigmella rhoifoliella - None

47 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

	Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2025-08-12 Alamance Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2025-08-12 Alamance Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-12 Ashe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-09 Alamance Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-09 Wilkes Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-01 Stanly Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-24 New Hanover Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-23 Columbus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-23 Columbus Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-14 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-14 Scotland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-10 Bladen Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-09 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-06-29 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-28 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-27 Davidson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams on 2025-06-12 Gates Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Tracy Feldman; R. Newman on 2025-06-03 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Becky Watkins on 2025-06-01 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp on 2024-11-12 Johnston Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-10-16 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-21 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2024-09-21 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-26 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Tracy Feldman on 2024-06-21 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-06 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-08-16 Macon Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-09-15 Caldwell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-09-15 Caldwell Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George on 2022-08-28 Durham Co. Comment: