Oecophoridae

Promalactis suzukiella Suzuki's

10 9 8 n=0 • 7 High Mt. • • 6 N 5 • •• u 4 • • 3 • • • m 2 • • b 1 0 • e • • • • r 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 NC counties: 25 • • Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec • • o 10 • f 9 n=24 • = Sighting or Collection 8 • 7 Low Mt. High counts of: • in NC since 2001 F 6 l 5 7 - Guilford - 2020-09-13 4 i 3 5 - Guilford - 2019-05-18 g 2 Status Rank h 1 5 - Guilford - 2019-06-01 0 NC US NC Global t 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 D Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec a 10 10 9 9 t 8 n=65 8 n=29 e 7 Pd 7 CP s 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 0 0 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Three periods to each month: 1-10 / 11-20 / 21-31 FAMILY: SUBFAMILY: Oecophorinae TRIBE: Oecophorini TAXONOMIC_COMMENTS: This is one of about 60 currently recognized species in this genus, whose distribution is centered in East and South Asia. This appears to be the only species that has become established in North America (Adamski et al., 2009)

FIELD GUIDE DESCRIPTIONS: ONLINE PHOTOS: TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, ADULTS: Adamski et al. (2009) TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, IMMATURE STAGES: Adamski et al. (2009)

ID COMMENTS: This is a very small and distinctively patterned micromoth. The vertex and thorax are pale brownish orange, with a few white scales near the base of the antennae. The scape of the antenna is white, and the flagellum has alternating black and white bands. The first and second segment of the outer surface of the labial palps is pale brownish orange, while the third segment is brown with a white apex. The ground color is a rich, reddish-brown and is overlaid with two conspicuous white bands. The first is a narrow basal band that slants posteriorly from the costal base before terminating just before the inner margin. The second begins on the inner margin at about one-half. It runs perpendicular to the inner margin to about mid-wing then angles anteriorly to the costa where it enlarges into a triangular base. A large white spot is adjacent to the costa in the subterminal area, and the fringe is orange. Epicallima argenticinctella is similar in size and appearance but lacks white on the head, has a well-defined brown saddle behind the thorax, and lacks the large white costal spot on the apical third of the forewing.

DISTRIBUTION: This introduced species was first discovered in the United States in 2002 and has since spread across most of the eastern US from the northeastern states southward to northern Florida, and westward to Michigan, Kansas, and southeastern Texas. Our earliest records for North Carolina are from 2011, and it now occurs statewide.

FLIGHT COMMENT: Adults have been found from March to October is different regions of the eastern US, with a seasonal peak in June through September. As of 2020, our records extends from late March through mid-October. Local populations are presumed to have two or more broods per year.

HABITAT: Our records come from areas where hardwoods are present, including natural communities and wooded residential neighborhoods. We do not yet have any records from conifer-dominated stands.

FOOD: Adamski et al. (2009) found sixty larvae under the bark of rotting logs of chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) and (Quercus spp.).

OBSERVATION_METHODS: The adults regularly visit UV-lights.

NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM RANKS: [GNA SNA]

STATE PROTECTION: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

COMMENTS: This is an introduced species from East Asia (Adamski et al., 2009) and has no known conservation concerns.

March 2021 The of North Carolina - Early Draft 1