Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFGracillariidae Members: Phyllocnistis Members: 104 NC Records

Phyllocnistis liquidambarisella Chambers, 1875 - No Common Name


Phyllocnistis liquidambarisella
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Phyllocnistis liquidambarisella
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Phyllocnistis liquidambarisella
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Phyllocnistis liquidambarisella
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Gracillarioidea
Family:
Gracillariidae
Subfamily:
Phyllocnistinae
Tribe:
[Phyllocnistini]
P3 Number:
33a0376
MONA Number:
848.00
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, BOLDTechnical Description, Immature Stages: Chambers (1875; Eiseman, 2019).                                                                                  
Adult Markings: The ground color of the forewing is silvery white with faint golden-yellowish coloration often present in the apical fourth. Just beyond mid-length, a curved dark line (narrow streak) extends from the costa to near the middle of the wing. This is followed by three relatively straight and shorter dark lines that are spaced out towards the apical spot, and that extend well into the fringe along the costa. Just posterior to the curved dark line on the costa, there is a similar curved line that originates on the dorsal margin and extends to the middle of the wing. The terminus of this line projects towards the first straight line on the costa. There is a well developed black apical spot, and a dark line in the apical fringe that originates at the spot and arches anteriorly towards the dorsal margin. Two or three additional faint dark lines are often evident in the apical fringe of unworn specimens. These radiate away from the apical spot. Chambers (1875) noted that the adults appear to be indistinguishable from Phyllocnistis vitifoliella and are best identified through rearing from the host plant.
Wingspan: 6 mm (Forbes, 1923)
Immatures and Development: The larvae produce long, winding, convoluted tracks on the upper surface of Sweetgum leaves. As a larva mines, it often loops back to parallel a previous section of mined leaf. The mine may be confined to a single lobe of a leaf, but more often winds through two or more leaf lobes. The larva produces a dark, liquid excrement that fills much of the mine (Eiseman, 2019). Pupation occurs at the end of the mine, often beneath the folded edge of the leaf. This is the only Phyllocnistis that exploits Sweetgum, and the distinctive mines are difficult to confuse with that any other species. Larvae often mine expanding leaves and cause minor distortions of the leaf surface and leaf shape.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Local populations of P. liquidambarisella are restricted to sites where Sweetgum is present. The species is found through much of the southeastern US to at least as far north as southern Ohio and New Jersey. In North Carolina, populations occur throughout the Coastal Plain and eastern Piedmont. Populations were recently located in the mountains, and appear to be locally common along the French Broad River drainage where Sweetgum is present.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Phyllocnistis liquidambarisellaAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New%20Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Immature Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: immatures.
Flight Comments: The flight season is poorly documented because of the scarcity of adult records. Fully formed leaf mines have been observed in North Carolina as early as late June, so the adults are likely on the wing sometime in May.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The larvae are dependent on Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) for reproduction. Sweetgum tends to be an early successional species that establishes well in disturbed habitats. Sweetgum tolerates a wide range of soil moisture and soil pH regimes, and can be found in a variety of habitats, including mature forests. Examples include floodplain and bottomland forests, swamplands, clearcuts, abandoned fields, roadways, and mesic to drier hardwood and mixed pine-hardwood forests.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) (Eiseman, 2022), which has been confirmed as the host in North Carolina. - View
Observation Methods: There are remarkably few adult records for this species, presumably because the adults are not attracted to lights. Almost all records are based on the leaf mines. We recommending searching for occupied mines during the late spring or early summer, then rearing and photographing the adults.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Sweetgum Groves and Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: [GNR] S4S5
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Phyllocnistis liquidambarisella - None

118 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Phyllocnistis liquidambarisellaRecorded by: Lior S. Carlson, Dean Furbish on 2025-06-17
Alamance Co.
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Phyllocnistis liquidambarisellaRecorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin, Tracy Feldman, David George, Jeff Niznik and John Petranka. on 2025-05-09
Cumberland Co.
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Phyllocnistis liquidambarisellaRecorded by: David George on 2024-10-29
Duplin Co.
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Phyllocnistis liquidambarisellaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-22
Randolph Co.
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Phyllocnistis liquidambarisellaRecorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp on 2024-08-23
Edgecombe Co.
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Phyllocnistis liquidambarisellaRecorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp on 2024-08-23
Nash Co.
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Phyllocnistis liquidambarisellaRecorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2024-08-12
Pamlico Co.
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Phyllocnistis liquidambarisellaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-02
Carteret Co.
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Phyllocnistis liquidambarisellaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-02
Craven Co.
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Phyllocnistis liquidambarisellaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-02
Jones Co.
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Phyllocnistis liquidambarisellaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-02
Lenoir Co.
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Phyllocnistis liquidambarisellaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23
Alamance Co.
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Phyllocnistis liquidambarisellaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23
Burke Co.
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Phyllocnistis liquidambarisellaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23
Catawba Co.
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Phyllocnistis liquidambarisellaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23
Davie Co.
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Phyllocnistis liquidambarisellaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23
Forsyth Co.
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Phyllocnistis liquidambarisellaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23
Guilford Co.
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Phyllocnistis liquidambarisellaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23
Iredell Co.
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Phyllocnistis liquidambarisellaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-20
Bladen Co.
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Phyllocnistis liquidambarisellaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-20
Duplin Co.
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Phyllocnistis liquidambarisellaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-20
Johnston Co.
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Phyllocnistis liquidambarisellaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-20
Sampson Co.
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Phyllocnistis liquidambarisellaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-20
Wayne Co.
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Phyllocnistis liquidambarisellaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-19
Columbus Co.
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Phyllocnistis liquidambarisellaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-18
Brunswick Co.
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Phyllocnistis liquidambarisellaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-17
Greene Co.
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Phyllocnistis liquidambarisellaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-17
New Hanover Co.
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Phyllocnistis liquidambarisellaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-17
Pender Co.
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Phyllocnistis liquidambarisellaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-17
Pitt Co.
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Phyllocnistis liquidambarisellaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-16
Lee Co.
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