Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Gracillariidae Members:	Phyllocnistis Members:	194 NC Records

Phyllocnistis liriodendronella Clemens, 1863 - Tulip-tree Leafminer Moth

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Gracillarioidea

Family:
Gracillariidae

Subfamily:
Phyllocnistinae

Tribe:
[Phyllocnistini]

P3 Number:
33a0377

MONA Number:
849.00

Other Common Name:
Magnolia Serpentine Leafminer

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). Phyllocnistis liriodendronella and P. magnoliella are two previously recognized species that have a longitudinal golden streak from the base to the middle of the forewing. According to Forbes (1923), brown edging occurs along the golden streak in P. liriodendronella, but is absent in P. magnoliella. Forbes also noted that P. liriodendronella is a specialist on the Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera), while P. magnoliella specializes on several species of native magnolias (Magnolia). Eiseman (2019) raised specimens from both Liriodendron and Magnolia in Massachusetts and found that the adults of both conformed to Forbes’ description of P. liriodendronella. A colleague of Eiseman also found just one species on Liriodendron and Magnolia. Jim Petranka reared specimens from Liriodendron and Magnolia mines from Madison County that also were indistinguishable and conform to P. liriodendronella as described by Forbes (1923). In the latest North American checklist (Pohl and Nanz, 2023), P. magnoliella was synonymized with P. liriodendronella.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

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

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1923), Eiseman (2021).

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Eiseman (2021).

Adult Markings: In this species, the base color of the forewing is silvery white with golden yellowish patches and streaks on the apical third. About midway, there is a matching pair of oblique costal and dorsal streaks that converge near the middle to form either a complete and incomplete posteriorly angled fascia. The streaks are golden-yellow and have well-defined dark margins. A broad, golden-yellow longitudinal streak, often with less prominent dark margins on both sides, extends from the wing base to near the apex of the fascia. This streak may sometimes fused with the fascia. A smaller broad golden-yellow costal streak occurs just posterior to the apex of the fascia. This streak runs nearly perpendicular to the costa, has a faint dark margin on the posterior edge, and often extends to the apex of the fascia. Beyond this streak, there are three short subapical dark lines with surrounding golden-yellowish wash, and a conspicuous apical spot. The dark lines run roughly perpendicular to the costa and into the fringe. In addition to these, two or three rather poorly defined dark lines are often evident in the apical fringe, along with a dark line that begins at the apical spot and arches anteriorly. Phyllocnistis liriodendronella is the only species of Phyllocnistis in our area that has a longitudinal golden streak from the base to the middle of the forewing.

Wingspan: 6 mm (Forbes, 1923)

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

Immatures and Development: The larvae of Phyllocnistis are leafminers that typically have four instars. The first three are highly specialized sap-feeding stages. These lack both legs and eyes and create long serpentine mines. The final instar is a non-feeding stage that spins a cocoon in an enlarged chamber at the end of the mine. Adults of the final seasonal brood overwinter and become active the following spring. Phyllocnistis liriodendronella produces a long, sinuous mine that often criss-crosses or repeatedly folds-back on itself. A well-defined narrow frass line is usually evident near the middle of an otherwise whitish mine. The mines can be found on both expanding and fully formed leaves beginning with the spring leaf-out (Eiseman, 2019). The larvae only mine the leaf epidermis and feed on the internal fluids of the cells. In North Carolina, the mines are typically on the upper leaf surface. However, we have found mines in the Sandhills that were on the lower leaf surface. These tended to be narrower and cover a smaller portion of the leaf compared to typical upper-surface mines.

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

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Phyllocnistis liriodendronella is widely distributed in eastern North America, including portions of southern Canada (Ontario; Quebec) and much of the eastern U.S. where the range extends from southern Maine to southern Florida, and westward to eastern Texas, Arkansas, western Kentucky, Indiana, Wisconsin and southern Minnesota. This species is common at low to mid-elevations in the mountains, but less so in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain.

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: The flight period in NC extends from late March through early November. We also have records from December and January that reflect overwintering adults. Many populations in North Carolina appear to be bivoltine.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Generally found in forest communities that support Liriodendron and native magnolias, particularly Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forests and Rich Cove Forests.

Larval Host Plants: The larvae specialize on members of the Magnoliaceae, with the native hosts including Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) and native magnolias. In North Carolina, we have records of leaf mines on Tuliptree and five of our six native magnolias: Cucumber Magnolia (M. acuminata), Fraser's Magnolia (M. fraseri), Southern Magnolia (M. grandiflora), Umbrella Magnolia (M. tripetala), and Sweetbay Magnolia (M. virginiana). - View

Observation Methods: The easiest way to document local populations is by searching for the distinctive mines on the host plants. Adults can be collected by holding leaves with mature mines until eclosion. The adults also occasionally come to lights at night.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Mesic Hardwood 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: This species was previously thought to be uncommon in the state, but increased effort to document leafminers have yielded numerous new records. The host plants are common forest and successional species in North Carolina and populations of P. liriodendronella appears to be secure.

Photo Gallery for Phyllocnistis liriodendronella - Tulip-tree Leafminer Moth

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

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-22 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-14 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, John Petranka, Sally Gewalt and Becky Elkin on 2025-04-15 Bladen Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-12-01 Johnston Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-11-29 Greene Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-11-22 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-11-22 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-11-18 Alleghany Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-11-16 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-22 Randolph Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-09 Mitchell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-09 Mitchell Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-09 Mitchell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-05 Transylvania 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: Stephen Dunn on 2024-07-31 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2024-07-20 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-02 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-02 Craven Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-02 Jones Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-02 Lenoir Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-26 Yancey Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23 Alamance Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23 Burke Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23 Catawba Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23 Davie Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23 Forsyth Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23 Iredell Co. Comment: