Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Nepticulidae Members:	Stigmella Members:	39 NC Records

Stigmella prunifoliella (Clemens, 1861) - No Common Name

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Nepticuloidea

Family:
Nepticulidae

P3 Number:
16a0008

MONA Number:
70.00

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: Prior to Newton and Wilkinson's (1982) revision of the genus, S. prunifoliella was referred to as S. bifasciella in older literature.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

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

Technical Description, Adults: Braun, 2017; Wilkinson and Scoble (1979).

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Braun, 2017.

Adult Markings: The following description is based on Braun (1917) and Wilkinson and Scoble (1979). The palps are gray and lustrous, and the antenna are dark brownish gray. The tuft is orange-ochreous and the eye-cap shining creamy white. The collar is very dark gray. The thorax and base of the forewing to the first fascia are dark purple. Beyond the first fascia, the wing is dark brown to brownish black with bronzy reflections. There are two shining silver fasciae, one at one-third and the second at two-thirds of the wing length. The cilia are concolorous to gray, but become silvery at their tips. The hindwing and cilia are gray. The legs are dark gray with some purple reflections, while the tarsi are pale ocherous.

Stigmella prunifoliella is externally indistinguishable from S. ceanothi, which is not known to occur in North Carolina. This is a more western form that occurs as far east as Massachusetts and Connecticut. These two species can be reliably identified by either genitalia or by raising adults from the host plants.

Wingspan: 3.2-4.6 mm for males; 3.2-4.4 mm for females.

Adult Structural Features: The following description of the genitalia is from Wilkinson and Scoble (1979). Males: The vinculum has the medial posterior edge of the ventral plate with a slight convex bulge. The tegumen is narrow, and the saccus is relatively small with a pair of small, widely separated papillae. The uncus is in the form of a bridge with two small lobes. The gnathos is U-shaped, and the horns each have a short branch arising approximately half way along their length. The valves are broad and reach beyond the uncus. The small, papillate style is not widely separated from the cuiller. The horizontal bars of the transtillas just meet centrally, and the aedeagus is flask-shaped with denticulate cornuti. Females: The anal plate is deeply emarginated. The ductus bursae is approximately twice the length of
the apophyses, and gradually widens into the bursa copulatrix, with the accessory sac adorned with denticles. The bursa copulatrix lacks a signum, but has a wavy row of minute pectinations. The anterior and posterior apophyses are of equal length. The anterior apophyses are arcuate and stout terminally, while the posterior apophyses are straight and narrow. The most distinctive features of S. prunifoliella males are the U-shaped gnathos, the aedeagus with a rectangular plate, and the spiculate cornuti. The distinctive features of the females include the denticulate accessory sac, the pectinate bursa copulatrix, and the absence of a signum. Wilkinson and Scoble (1979) noted that this species shows similarities in genital morphology to members of several of the other species-groups that they recognized. A detailed discussion in available in their publication (also see Newton and Wilkinson, 1982). Stigmella prunifoliella is similar to S. ceanothi, but has a less extensive saccus and smaller cornuti on the vesica. In the female, the accessory sac of S. ceanothi may have weaker denticulate markings than S. prunifoliella. The external features of these two species are indistinguishable.

Immatures and Development: Females lay their eggs on the lower leaf next to the midrib. The larva produces an upper surface linear track that typically has a series of zig-zag convoluted arcs for much of the length. In some specimens frass appears rather diffuse within the track, while in others the frass is darker and better defined due to a more compact deposition of the grains. The mine is often strongly contorted, particularly toward the beginning, where it may form a secondary blotch (Braun, 1917; Wilkinson and Scoble, 1979; Eiseman, 2019). The area around the track is often discolored and stained reddish, and there are often two or more mines in a single leaf. Braun (1917) noted that the mines are especially common on the leaves of young saplings that are only a few inches above the ground.

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

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Stigmella prunifoliella has been documented in southeastern Canada (Ontario; Nova Scotia,New Brunswick) and as scattered populations in the eastern US to as far west as Iowa, and as far south as Mississippi and North Carolina (Eiseman, 2019). As of 2020, we have records from all three physiographic provinces.

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: Local populations are trivoltine. Braun (1917) noted that this species is one of the earliest to appear in the spring. In the vicinity of southern Ohio and Kentucky, the larvae in the first brood become full grown by the middle of May. A second brood occurs in June and July and the last in September.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: The larvae feed on Prunus spp. and appear to rely heavily on Black Cherry. This species is found throughout most of the state where it is common along forest edges and in other disturbed or early successional habitats. Black Cherry is also common in bottomlands and in rich, mesic hardwood forests.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae mine the leaves of Prunus species; Black Cherry (P. serotina) appears to be the primary host, but there are also records for Canada Plum (P. nigra), Fire Cherry (P. pensylvanica), and Peach (P. persica) (Eiseman, 2022). In North Carolina, mines have been recorded on Black Cherry and Chickasaw Plum (P. angustifolia). - View

Observation Methods: The adults appear to occasionally visit lights, but cannot always be reliably identified without examining genitalia. The leaf mines are readily visible on Black Cherry leaves, and we recommend raising adults from mines.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Rosaceous Thickets

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S3S4

State Protection:

Comments: We currently do not have sufficient information on the distribution and abundance of this species within the state to assess its conservation status.

Photo Gallery for Stigmella prunifoliella - None

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

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-10-18 Stanly Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Jim Petranka on 2025-10-17 Madison Co. Comment: Prunus serotina was host plant. Mines were unoccupied unoccupied. Photo was taken in Erwin, Tennessee, but mine was collected in NC.
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-10-01 Hoke Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-14 Ashe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-14 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-14 Scotland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-12 Davidson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-10 Bladen Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-14 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-12 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-01 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-09-16 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin and Bo Sullivan on 2023-08-08 Wilkes Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin and Bo Sullivan on 2023-08-08 Wilkes Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-08-05 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-07 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-03 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-03 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-06-30 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-06-30 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-05-17 Montgomery Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-05-17 Montgomery Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-05-17 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-05-17 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2023-05-04 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George on 2022-11-01 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2022-10-04 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-10-04 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-10-04 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-08-24 Macon Co. Comment: