Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFGracillariidae Members: 34 NC Records

Cameraria guttifinitella (Clemens, 1859) - No Common Name


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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Gracillarioidea Family: GracillariidaeSubfamily: LithocolletinaeTribe: [Lithocolletini]P3 Number: 330360.00 MONA Number: 822.00
Comments: Cameraria is a genus of leaf-mining micromoths. Many species are stenophagous and specialize on a small number of closely related host species. There are currently more than 50 described species in North America.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalistTechnical Description, Adults: Clemens (1859)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Clemens (1859), Eiseman (2019)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Adults closely resemble several other species of Cameraria, but can be identified from high-quality images that show both lateral and dorsal views. The adults appear to rarely visit lights and are best obtained by collecting leaves with mines and raising larvae to eclosion. The following is Clemens (1859) original description of the adults: Front silvery, with a reddish hue. Tuft and thorax reddish orange. Antennae blackish brown. Forewings rather deep reddish orange, with two silvery bands black margined behind, one in the middle of the wing and nearly straight, the other midway between this and the base of the wing and obliquely placed. Before the costo-apical cilia is a costal silvery spot, black margined on both sides, with an opposite dorsal spot, black margined behind. The apical portion of the wing is dusted with blackish, dispersed scales, with a white spot near the tip above the middle of the wing. There are two hinder marginal lines, one the margin of the dispersed scales, the other dark brownish in the cilia.
Wingspan: 7-8 mm
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larvae feed on Toxicodendron species, including Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), Poison Oak (T. pubescens), and Poison Sumac (T. vernix). Feeding occurs on the upper leaf surface and eventually results in elongated blotch mines. These characteristically have light edges and darker centers that are frass-filled. Individual mines often have a single larva, but it is not uncommon for there to be two or more larvae present that feed communally. A single leaflet sometimes has two or more mines that occupy most of the surface of a leaflet and produce an overall bleached pattern. Larvae of the last seasonal brood typically overwinter in the mines in circular or oval-shaped, silk-lined chambers. They then pupate during the spring warm-up and eclose shortly thereafter (Eiseman, 2019).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: This species is broadly distributed in North America and occurs as far west as Washington State and British Columbia. In eastern North America, it occurs from southern Canada south to Texas and Florida (Eiseman, 2019). It likely occurs statewide in North Carolina, although more records are needed to confirm this.
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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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: Eiseman (2019) reported that this species is bivoltine. As of 2020, our earliest records of occupied mines are from June.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Populations have been found in North Carolina in habitats that range from a mid-elevation hardwood forest in the Blue Ridge to a wetland habitat near the coast. Local populations are poorly documented in North Carolina, but likely occur in a variety of forested or edge habitats that support Poison Ivy and other host plants.
Larval Host Plants: The larvae require either Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), Poison Oak (T. pubescens), or Poison Sumac (T. vernix) for feeding and shelter.
Observation Methods: Local populations of this species are most easily detected by searching for the distinctive blotch mines that are on Poison Ivy and other species of Toxicodendron. Two other moth species mine Toxicodendron leaves in the eastern US. These produce either very elongated, narrow mines (Stigmella rhoifoliella), or linear mines that eventually widen and become tentiform (Caloptilia rhoifoliella). Both are easily distinguished from the large blotch mines of C. guttifinitella. Adults appear to rarely come to lights.
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 [SU]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: We have only a few records for this species in North Carolina as of 2019, and more information on the distribution, frequency of occurrence, and population trends are needed to make any meaningful estimate of its conservation status.

 Photo Gallery for Cameraria guttifinitella - No common name

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

Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2021-10-05
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2021-10-05
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-09-30
Scotland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-09-24
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-09-24
Henderson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall, Carol Tingley, Van Cotter, and Meriel Goodwin on 2021-09-21
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-09-18
Madison Co.
Comment: An occupied mine on Poison Ivy. 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-09-12
Madison Co.
Comment: An occupied mine on Poison Ivy.
Recorded by: Jim Petranka Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-09-10
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-09-10
Transylvania Co.
Comment: A backlit image showing two niduses.
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-09-02
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-09-02
Madison Co.
Comment: A backlit image showing a feeding larva.
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-08-03
Ashe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-08-03
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-07-23
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-07-22
Graham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-07-13
Avery Co.
Comment: Occupied mines were on Poison Ivy.		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-07-13
Mitchell Co.
Comment: Unoccupied mine was on Poison Ivy.
Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2021-07-10
McDowell Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-07-06
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-06-27
McDowell Co.
Comment: Occupied upper surface mine was on Poison Ivy; one larva in the mine. 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-06-21
Buncombe Co.
Comment: Occupied mines were on Poison Ivy
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-06-16
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-06-07
Catawba Co.
Comment: Occupied upper surface mine was on Poison Ivy; two larvae in a single mine.
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-06-07
Catawba Co.
Comment: Occupied upper surface mine was on Poison Ivy; two larvae in a single mine.		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-06-05
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2020-10-19
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2020-10-19
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2020-09-08
Madison Co.
Comment: Occupied mine with two larvae was on Poison Ivy.		Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2020-08-30
Buncombe Co.
Comment: