Moths of North Carolina
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Significant Contributors
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
Family (Alpha):
ACROLEPIIDAE-
ADELIDAE-
AMPHISBATIDAE-
AUTOSTICHIDAE-
BATRACHEDRIDAE-
BEDELLIIDAE-
BLASTOBASIDAE-
BOMBYCIDAE-
BUCCULATRICIDAE-
CARPOSINIDAE-
CHOREUTIDAE-
COLEOPHORIDAE-
COSMOPTERIGIDAE-
COSSIDAE-
CRAMBIDAE-
DEPRESSARIIDAE-
DREPANIDAE-
ELACHISTIDAE-
EPERMENIIDAE-
EPIPYROPIDAE-
EREBIDAE-Erebid Moths
ERIOCRANIIDAE-
EUTELIIDAE-
GALACTICIDAE-
GELECHIIDAE-
GEOMETRIDAE-
GLYPHIDOCERIDAE-
GLYPHIPTERIGIDAE-
GRACILLARIIDAE-
HELIOZELIDAE-
HEPIALIDAE-
HYBLAEIDAE-
INCURVARIIDAE-
LASIOCAMPIDAE-
LECITHOCERIDAE-Long-horned Moths
LIMACODIDAE-
LYONETIIDAE-
MEGALOPYGIDAE-Flannel Moths
MICROPTERIGIDAE-
MIMALLONIDAE-
MOMPHIDAE-Mompha Moths
NEPTICULIDAE-
NOCTUIDAE-Owlet Moths
NOLIDAE-
NOTODONTIDAE-
OECOPHORIDAE-
OPOSTEGIDAE-
PELEOPODIDAE-
PLUTELLIDAE-
PRODOXIDAE-
PSYCHIDAE-Bagworm Moths
PTEROPHORIDAE-
PYRALIDAE-
SATURNIIDAE-Saturniids
SCHRECKENSTEINIIDAE-
SESIIDAE-
SPHINGIDAE-Sphinx Moths
THYATIRIDAE-
THYRIDIDAE-
TINEIDAE-
TISCHERIIDAE-
TORTRICIDAE-
URANIIDAE-
URODIDAE-
XYLORYCTIDAE-
YPONOMEUTIDAE-
YPSOLOPHIDAE-
ZYGAENIDAE-
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Gracillariidae Members:
Acrocercops albinatella
Acrocercops astericola
Acrocercops unidentified species
Anarsioses aberrans
Aristaea pennsylvaniella
Caloptilia alnivorella
Caloptilia azaleella
Caloptilia belfragella
Caloptilia bimaculatella
Caloptilia blandella
Caloptilia cornusella
Caloptilia coroniella
Caloptilia flavella
Caloptilia glutinella
Caloptilia hypericella
Caloptilia invariabilis
Caloptilia juglandiella
Caloptilia negundella
Caloptilia ostryaeella
Caloptilia packardella
Caloptilia paradoxum
Caloptilia porphyretica
Caloptilia rhoifoliella
Caloptilia sassafrasella
Caloptilia serotinella
Caloptilia stigmatella
Caloptilia superbifrontella
Caloptilia triadicae
Caloptilia umbratella
Caloptilia unidentified species
Caloptilia violacella
Cameraria aceriella
Cameraria aesculisella
Cameraria arcuella
Cameraria bethunella
Cameraria betulivora
Cameraria caryaefoliella
Cameraria castaneaeella
Cameraria cincinnatiella
Cameraria conglomeratella
Cameraria corylisella
Cameraria fletcherella
Cameraria guttifinitella
Cameraria hamadryadella
Cameraria hamameliella
Cameraria lentella
Cameraria macrocarpella
Cameraria obstrictella
Cameraria ostryarella
Cameraria picturatella
Cameraria quercivorella
Cameraria saccharella
Cameraria tubiferella
Cameraria ulmella
Cameraria unidentified species
Chrysaster ostensackenella
Cremastobombycia ignota
Cremastobombycia solidaginis
Cremastobombycia unidentified species
Cryptolectica strigosa
Leucanthiza amphicarpeaefoliella
Leucospilapteryx unidentified species
Leucospilapteryx venustella
Macrosaccus morrisella
Macrosaccus robiniella
Macrosaccus uhlerella
Marmara apocynella
Marmara fasciella
Marmara fraxinicola
Marmara serotinella
Marmara smilacisella
Marmara unidentified species
Marmara viburnella
Micrurapteryx salicifoliella
Neurobathra strigifinitella
New genus and species near Neurobathra
Parectopa lespedezaefoliella
Parectopa plantaginisella
Parectopa robiniella
Parectopa unidentified species
Parornix geminatella
Parornix obliterella
Parornix preciosella
Parornix unidentified species
Parornix vicinella
Phyllocnistis ampelopsiella
Phyllocnistis hyperpersea
Phyllocnistis insignis
Phyllocnistis liquidambarisella
Phyllocnistis liriodendronella
Phyllocnistis New Species one
Phyllocnistis subpersea
Phyllocnistis unidentified species
Phyllocnistis vitegenella
Phyllocnistis vitifoliella
Phyllonorycter aeriferella
Phyllonorycter albanotella
Phyllonorycter argentifimbriella
Phyllonorycter argentinotella
Phyllonorycter auronitens
Phyllonorycter basistrigella
Phyllonorycter caryaealbella
Phyllonorycter celtifoliella
Phyllonorycter celtisella
Phyllonorycter crataegella
Phyllonorycter diversella
Phyllonorycter fitchella
Phyllonorycter intermixta
Phyllonorycter lucetiella
Phyllonorycter lucidicostella
Phyllonorycter maestingella
Phyllonorycter mariaeella
Phyllonorycter martiella
Phyllonorycter New Species one
Phyllonorycter obscuricostella
Phyllonorycter occitanica
Phyllonorycter ostryaefoliella
Phyllonorycter propinquinella
Phyllonorycter quercialbella
Phyllonorycter salicifoliella
Phyllonorycter scudderella
Phyllonorycter tiliacella
Phyllonorycter trinotella
Phyllonorycter unidentified species
Phyllonorycter viburnella
Porphyrosela desmodiella
Porphyrosela minuta
Porphyrosela unidentified species
Povolnya quercinigrella
Telamoptilia hibiscivora
Phyllocnistis
Members:
Phyllocnistis ampelopsiella
Phyllocnistis hyperpersea
Phyllocnistis insignis
Phyllocnistis liquidambarisella
Phyllocnistis liriodendronella
Phyllocnistis New Species one
Phyllocnistis subpersea
Phyllocnistis unidentified species
Phyllocnistis vitegenella
Phyllocnistis vitifoliella
35 NC Records
Phyllocnistis hyperpersea
Davis and Wagner, 2011 - No Common Name
view caption
An upper surface mine on a leaf of Swamp Redbay (Persea palustris). This species almost always uses the upper surface of Persea leaves and has a very wide brownish frass trail. Note the wide frass trail, and the terminal, circular nidus that houses the pupa.
view caption
An upper surface mine on a leaf of Swamp Bay (Persea palustris) with a conspicuous central frass line. Note the terminal pupation chamber with a circular nidus.
view caption
An upper surface mine on a leaf of Swamp Redbay (Persea palustris). This is a typical mine pattern where the larva feeds on one side of the leaf, then crosses over near the apex to feed on the opposing side. Note the terminal, circular nidus that houses the pupa.
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Gracillarioidea
Family:
Gracillariidae
Subfamily:
Phyllocnistinae
Tribe:
Phyllocnistini
P3 Number:
330397.00
MONA Number:
845.10
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 hostplant and mine characteristics is helpful in identifying morphologically similar species (Eiseman, 2019).
Species Status:
This species was recently described by Davis and Wagner (2011), and is one of two species of
Phyllocnistis
in North Carolina that feed on Redbays (
Persea
sp.).
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions:
Online Photographs:
MPG
,
BugGuide
,
iNaturalist
,
Google
,
BAMONA
,
GBIF
,
BOLD
Technical Description, Adults:
Davis and Wagner (2011)
Technical Description, Immature Stages:
Davis and Wagner (2011)
Adult Markings:
The following is based on descriptions provided by Davis and Wagner (2011). The frons is shiny white, smooth, and glabrous, while the vertex is whitish with subtle faint orange tints. The antenna has an orange-fuscous luster above, and the labial palps are white and reduced, with the length less than the height of the eye. The upper thorax is silvery straw-colored, and sometimes with orange tints. The forewing has a longitudinal fascia that usually ends just before joining the transverse fascia. The longitudinal fascia is thinly edged with black scales above and below except distad. The transverse fascia is usually complete, and leaves the costal margin at a 45° angle. It is usually more thickly edged with black scales along the proximal (basal) side. The distal side is somewhat rounded with black, with the edge-scaling weakened medially. The second costal fascia is poorly differentiated, and does not fuse with the transverse fascia as in
Phyllocnistis subpersea
. A well developed spot of black scales occurs near the tip of the wing. The costal and apical strigulae are modestly differentiated, and there are often only two of the latter. The black fringe scales about the tornus are only modestly differentiated compared to those of
Phyllocnistis subpersea
. They are few in number, are not strongly raised, and are not appreciably broadened. The dorsal and outer surfaces of the foretibiae and foretarsi, and to lesser extent those of the mesothoracic legs, are fuscous metallic orange, while the third tarsomere of the hindleg is often darkened, Otherwise, the legs are mostly silvery white and unmarked. The abdomen is also silvery white and unmarked. Diagnostic features that help to distinguish
P. hyperpersea
from
P. subpersea
are its small size (forewing length < 2.3 mm), the short labial palps (less than the height of the eye), the presence of a prominent black apical spot, and the second costal fascia that is weakly developed and does not fuse with the transverse fascia as in
P. subpersea
. In addition, the black fringe scales about the tornus are fewer in number, narrower, and less blackened relative to those of
P. subpersea
(Davis and Wagner, 2011). These species can also be distinguished based on characteristics of the mines.
Forewing Length:
1.9–2.2 mm (Davis and Wagner, 2011).
Adult Structural Features:
Davis and Wagner (2011) provide detailed descriptions of the male and female genitalia. Because of the general similarity of both male and female genitalia that exists among most members of
Phyllocnistis
, species, identifications that rely upon standard genitalic characters are challenging (Davis and Wagner, 2011). The genitalia of
Phyllocnistis hyperpersea
and
P. subpersea
are very similar. Subtle differences include the fact that the valva of
P. subpersea
is curved slightly dorsad and is relatively shorter (~ 1.6× the length of the vinculum), and the basal apodeme of the valva is directed slightly caudad in repose. The female genitalia are also similar to those of
P. subpersea
, except the ductus bursae of
P. subpersea
is slightly shorter (~ 2.2× the length of the papillae anales), and it gradually enlarges to a moderately slender, elliptical, corpus bursae. The ductus seminalis is ~ 1.8× the length of the corpus bursae. Davis and Wagner (2011) noted that the pupae of
Phyllocnistis
often show species-specific differences in external anatomy. In particular, the frontal process (cocoon-cutter) of the pupa of
P. subpersea
consists of a pair of stout, conical spines arising near the apex, and a single more subapical and strongly curved spine from the upper frons. In contrast, the frontal process of
P. hyperpersea
consists of a single spine that extends forward as a relatively large and broadly triangular, acute spine.
Adult ID Requirements:
Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development:
The egg is deposited on the upper leaf surface away from the midrib, and the larva passes through three sap-feeding instars that create a long serpentine mine. The mine begins as a narrow tract ~ 0.3 mm wide and gradually enlarges before the pupation chamber to a width of ~ 2–2.5 mm. The mine has a relatively broad, dark brownish, median frass trail and is almost always located on the upper leaf surface. The frass line is much broader than that of
P. subpersea
. It is about ¼ of the mine width in the early instars but broadens to more than half the mine width in mature mines. After the larva feeds on one side of the blade, it often crosses over near the leaf apex to the other side and continue mining (Davis and Wagner, 2011). However, deviations from this common pattern occur. Pupation occurs away from the leaf edge in a circular or slightly oval nidus.
Larvae ID Requirements:
Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
Phyllocnistis hyperpersea
has been found from extreme southeastern Virginia, south along the Atlantic Coastal Plain to the Florida Everglades. As of 2023 we have records from most of the lower Coastal Plain and from the Sandhills region and vicinity.
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
Flight Comments:
As of 2023, we have no information on the flight season in North Carolina since all of our records are based on unoccupied mines. Davis and Wagner (2011) had adults emerge from mines from Sept-June in southern Florida, and in June in southern Virginia.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Phyllocnistis hyperpersea
is a specialist on Redbays (
Persea
). Our two native species are found in both wetlands (
Persea palustris
) and drier, sandy habitats (
P. borbonia
).
Larval Host Plants:
Larvae feed on
Persea
species, including our two native species, Upland Redbay (
Persea borbonia
) and Swamp Redbay (
P. palustris
). As of 2023, mines from North Carolina were only found on
P. palustris
, which is much more common in the state than
Persea borbonia
. Davis and Wagner (2011) reported that
P. subpersea
used
P. borbonia
in southeastern Virginia. These were likely
P. palustris
since the two species are easily confused, and
P. borbonia
is not known to occur in Virginia. -
View
Observation Methods:
The adults appear to rarely if ever visit lights and almost all records are based on leaf mines or reared adults. The mines are conspicuous on the upper surfaces of bay leaves.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for
Redbay Shrublands
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
[GNR] S2S3
State Protection:
Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:
Phyllocnistis hyperpersea
appears to be somewhat uncommon in North Carolina, but can be found with some regularity in the Coastal Plain wherever
P. palustris
occurs locally. It is highly threatened by the widespread and continuing loss of Redbay trees throughout the Southeast due to an introduced pathogen, the Laurel Wilt fungus (
Raffaelea lauricola
).
Photo Gallery for
Phyllocnistis hyperpersea
- No Common Name
37 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-10-23
Pender Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams on 2023-09-18
Gates Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-06-13
Richmond Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther on 2023-05-25
Wayne Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther on 2023-05-25
Wayne Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther on 2023-05-25
Wayne Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-05-04
Pender Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Bo Sullivan on 2023-05-01
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George on 2023-03-27
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Erich Hofmann on 2023-03-26
New Hanover Co.
Comment: unoccupied upper-surface mines common on Persea palustris
Recorded by: David George on 2023-02-06
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Becky Watkins on 2022-11-08
Camden Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-10-27
Pender Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin, Steve Hall, Todd Pusser, Bo Sullivan and Carol Tingley on 2022-09-27
Richmond Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-08-29
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Morgan Freese on 2022-08-28
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-25
Beaufort Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-03-16
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-03-16
Columbus Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-02-21
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-02-18
Hyde Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-02-17
Hyde Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-02-16
Beaufort Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, John Petranka, Becky Elkin, and Sally Gewalt on 2021-12-06
Dare Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, John Petranka, Becky Elkin, and Sally Gewalt on 2021-12-05
Dare Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, John Petranka, Becky Elkin, and Sally Gewalt on 2021-12-05
Dare Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-09-30
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-09-30
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-03-29
Bladen Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2021-03-12
Craven Co.
Comment: An upper surface mine on a leaf of Persea.