Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Gracillariidae Members:	Phyllocnistis Members:	57 NC Records

Phyllocnistis ampelopsiella Chambers, 1871 - No Common Name

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Gracillarioidea

Family:
Gracillariidae

Subfamily:
Phyllocnistinae

P3 Number:
33a0370

MONA Number:
844.00

Comments: Phyllocnistis is a large genus with more than 125 described species worldwide, with 16 species currently recognized in North America. Davis and Wagner (2011) surmised that there may be hundreds of undescribed species in the neotropics. The adults of some species are very similar, and knowledge of the host plant and mine characteristics is helpful in identifying morphologically similar species (Eiseman, 2019).

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

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

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Chambers, 1871; Eiseman, 2019.

Adult Markings: The following is based primarily on Chambers’ (1871) original description. The forewing is snowy white and slightly golden towards the apex. The antenna, except near the base, is pale fuscous to darkish above. A pale blackish spot is present on the dorsal margin of the wings just posterior to the base. It adjoins an indistinct blackish median longitudinal line that extends through the thorax. A conspicuous oblique blackish basal streak begins at the base of the costa and progressively projects toward the middle of the wing. Just beyond the middle of the costa is a second shorter oblique costal black streak which projects towards the middle of the wing. Behind this is a narrow black line (sometimes incomplete near the middle) that curves from the costa to the inner margin where it widens. A conspicuous, circular black spot is present at the tip of the wing. Before it, there are two straight black costal streaks that extend into the fringe. The apical cilia has three blackish lines that converge towards the apical spot. Finally, there is a blackish marginal line, or a more diffuse blackish band, that originates near the apical spot and arches anteriorly towards the dorsal margin. Chambers (1871) noted that this species resembles P. vitifoliella, but differs in having a blackish median line through the thorax, a conspicuous black basal streak, and bolder blackish streaks throughout.

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

Immatures and Development: The larvae mine the underside of Virginia Creeper leaves and produce a wide, linear mine with a very narrow black central frass line. A larva will often begin on the side of a vein near the leaf margin, then pass down the vein until it reaches, or nearly reaches, the midrib. From there it roughly parallels the midrib to the next vein, then works its way up that vein to the leaf margin. From there, it crosses to the adjoining vein and repeats the process. Because most of the tissue is consumed in the process, the track superficially resembles a large whitish blotch mine (Chambers, 1871; Eiseman, 2019). Pupation occurs at the end of the mine, typically in a small fold along the leaf margin. Chambers (1871) occasionally found the adults overwintering beneath the bark on hickory trees.

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Phyllocnistis ampelopsiella is found throughout much of eastern North America wherever the host plant is present. The range extends from southern Canada (Manitoba; Ontario; Quebec) and the northern US (Iowa eastward to the New England states), southward to as far south as southern Florida, Louisiana and eastern Texas. This species occurs statewide in North Carolina except for the higher elevations 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
Flight Comments: Chambers (1871) noted that the larvae mine the leaves of Virginia Creeper from early summer until leaf drop in the fall. As of 2024, we have records for occupied mines that extend from early-May through early-November. Local populations presumably produce two or more broods annually.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Local populations are dependent on Virginia Creeper for successful reproduction. This widespread vine occurs in a wide variety of forest and forest edge habitats that range from swamplands and bottomland forests to drier woodlands.

Larval Host Plants: Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) is the primary native host used by this species in North America (Eiseman, 2022). Nearly all of our records in North Carolina are from Virginia Creeper, but Tracy Feldman also has one for a larva on Peppervine (Nekemias arborea). - View

Observation Methods: The adults appear to rarely visit lights. Most records are for either leaf mines, or for adults that were reared from leaf mines. We recommend searching for occupied mines on the undersides of leaves, and rearing and photographing the adults.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Vitaceous Tangles

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S3S4

State Protection:

Comments: This species is probably more common than our records suggest given that the leaf mines are difficult to spot without inspecting the undersides of Virginia Creeper leaves.

Photo Gallery for Phyllocnistis ampelopsiella - None

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

	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Marilyn Westphal on 2025-08-18 Henderson Co. Comment: Unoccupied mine was in Parthenocissus quinquefolia leaf.		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-15 Ashe 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, Jim Petranka, and Becky Elkin on 2025-08-03 Moore 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 2025-07-20 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-14 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-09 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-27 Davidson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-22 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: T. Feldman; R. Newman on 2025-06-03 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: T. Feldman; R. Newman on 2025-06-03 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-11-03 Columbus Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-11-02 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Randy Newman on 2024-10-28 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams on 2024-10-26 Gates Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-22 Randolph Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-26 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp on 2024-08-23 Nash Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-13 Pitt Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-03 McDowell Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-03 Mitchell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-17 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-07-15 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-13 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-02 Carteret Co. Comment: