Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFNepticulidae Members:
Stigmella Members:
0 NC Records

Stigmella macrocarpae/nigriverticella complex - No Common Name

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Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Nepticuloidea		 Family:
Nepticulidae		P3 Number:
0.00		 MONA Number:
88.10
Comments: Members of the genus Stigmella are a group of small leaf-mining moths that typically create linear mines, although a few species form linear-blotch or blotch mines. Newton and Wilkinson (1982) recognized 51 species in their revision on the North American fauna, and new discoveries have since raised the total to around 57 species. Almost all species are specialists and rarely use more than one genus of host plants. Host-specificity, mine characteristics, and genitalic differences are helpful in recognizing closely related forms that are externally similar.
Species Status: Stigmella macrocarpae and S. nigriverticella are two closely related species that appear to be members of a species complex that may contain one or more undescribed species. Chambers (1878) originally described a form with a broad fascia near the middle of the forewings as Nepticula latifasciella (= Stigmella latifasciella, and later S. macrocarpae). He also described a second form (Chambers, 1875) with an even broader, less well-defined, and more diffuse band as N. nigriverticella (= S. nigriverticella). North American experts have traditionally treated the narrow-banded form as S. macrocarpae (e.g., Newton and Wilkinson 1982), and most specimens from North Carolina appear to be this form. However, a recent revision of the Nepticulidae (Van Nieukerken et al. 2016) reinterpreted the narrow-banded form as being S. nigriverticella rather than S. macrocarpae. This has generated confusion about the appropriate names to apply to these types. The genitalia appear to be identical for S. macrocarpae and S. nigriverticella (Newton and Wilkinson 1982) and DNA analyzes reveal at least seven major lineages (BINS) within the two recognized species. A major taxonomic revision of the group is clearly needed before NC specimens can be confidently assigned to species. We are currently treating specimens from NC as members of the S. macrocarpae/nigriverticella complex until these taxonomic and nomenclatural issues are resolved.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Chambers (1875, 1878); Newton and Wilkinson (1982); Van Nieukerken et al. (2016).                                                                                 
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Stigmella macrocarpae/nigriverticella complex
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

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Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Larval Host Plants: - View
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
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