Moths of North Carolina
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Phyllonorycter Members:
1 NC Records

Phyllonorycter rhododendrella (Braun, 1935) - No Common Name

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Gracillarioidea Family: GracillariidaeSubfamily: LithocolletinaeTribe: [Lithocolletini]P3 Number: 330323.00 MONA Number: 787.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following description is base on Braun (1935), who reared a large series from eastern Tennessee. The head and tuft are pure white, while the antenna is whitish with a darkened tip. The thorax and extreme base of the forewing are white, and the ground color of the forewing is a golden yellowish-brown. The ground is overlain with white markings that include a median basal streak, a dorsal spot near the base, four costal streaks and three dorsal streaks. The median basal streak is straight, extends about one-fourth the wing length, and is margined above, and very rarely at the tip, with dark brown scales. The dark scales sometimes extend beyond the middle of the wing where they unite with the dark basal margin of the first costal streak. The dorsal spot near the base is variable in size, unmargined, and sometimes narrowly connected with the base along the wing margin.

The forewing streaks include a wide, outwardly-oblique, median pair near the middle, with the tip of the costal streak extending beyond that of the first dorsal streak. Both have a thin, dark margin on the basal and terminal edges. A second pair of outwardly-oblique streaks occur at around four-fifths the wing length, with the dorsal one larger and more quadrate that the opposing costal one, and extending just beyond the middle of the wing. These and the remaining streaks have a thin, dark basal margin. The remaining streaks are smaller than those of the first two pairs, and include two costal streaks and a dorsal streak. A small black apical spot is present that is adjoins a white patch or short streak. The fringe is yellowish-brown but shades to more whitish near the apex. The hindwing is pale grayish ocherous, with the fringe more ocherous. The legs are white, with the anterior tibiae and tarsi only shaded with dark fuscous. Braun (1935) noted that females tend to have a deeper ground color and more sharply defined markings relative to the males.
Wingspan: 11 mm (Braun, 1935).
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larvae produce large, tentiform mines on the undersides of new, tender Rhododendron leaves. Braun (1935) noted that the parenchyma is eaten irregularly, which results in small patches around the periphery of the mine and a larger area in the middle that is uneaten. The loosened lower epidermis is thrown into several long ridges when the leaf is bent. The mature larva partitions off one end of the mine with a very thin silken web that is thinly lined with silk. The pupa is suspended in a few silken threads that are not sufficiently dense to call a cocoon. Overwintering occurs in the pupal stage and the adults emerge early the next summer.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
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: Local populations appear to be univoltine and exploit the young, tender leaves of rhododendrons following the spring or summer leaf-out.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Local populations are restricted to habitats that support Rhododendron carolinianum and probably R. minus.
Larval Host Plants: The documented hosts include Carolina Rhododendron (R. carolinianum) and ornamental hybrids that are crosses of R. minus with other species (iNaturalist). Piedmont Rhododendron (R. minus) is likely used in North Carolina, but has not been verified as of 2024.
Observation Methods: We recommend searching for the mines on R. carolinianum and R. minus.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Phyllonorycter rhododendrella - No common name

Photos: 3

Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2024-08-05
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2024-08-05
Transylvania Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2024-08-05
Transylvania Co.
Comment: