Dichomeris leuconotella

Distinguished from similar Dichomeris species by the prominent canary yellow spot at the end of the forewing cell, contrasting with the dark purplish brown ground color. The triangular light-brown costal spot is faint and less diagnostic. The combination of dark shining forewings with a bright yellow discal spot is distinctive within the genus.

Adults have a wingspan of approximately 17 mm. Forewings are dark purplish brown and shining, with a conspicuous canary yellow, somewhat elongated spot at the end of the cell and a barely visible triangular light-brown costal spot at the apical third. Hindwings are dark fuscous.

Open fields containing host plants. Larval microhabitat consists of folded leaves on goldenrod plants, with specific host species and habitat conditions affecting larval performance.

North America: recorded from Nova Scotia to Maryland, southern Canada (including Alberta), Washington, Colorado, Iowa, and Indiana.

Adults on wing from June to September. Larval activity coincides with host plant growing season.

Larvae feed on leaves of Solidago uliginosa, Helianthus grosseserratus, and Aster species. Feeding occurs within constructed leaf folds.

• Solidago uliginosa - larval host plantprimary host in some studies
• Helianthus grosseserratus - larval host plant
• Aster species - larval host plant
• Solidago spp. - larval host plantgeneral host genus; specific species affect larval growth and survival

Early instar larvae construct leaf folds or silk webs on host plants for shelter and feeding. Larvae remain within these refuges, with refuge quality affecting growth rates. Disturbed larvae that rebuild shelters on younger leaves show higher growth rates than those remaining on senescing leaves. Pupation likely occurs within shelters, though specific details are not documented.

Caterpillars exhibit leaf-folding behavior, using silk to bind leaves into shelters that provide favorable microclimate and protection. Larvae face a trade-off between refuge stability and optimal feeding: remaining in established shelters risks exposure to leaf senescence, while rebuilding shelters risks dislodgment or wandering-related mortality. In the absence of predators, forced refuge changes increase disappearance rates due to falling or wandering from host plants.

Herbivore on goldenrods and related asters; leaf-folding damage may influence host plant fitness through localized tissue removal and photosynthetic reduction.

• Other Dichomeris speciesSimilar size and wing shape; distinguished by the conspicuous canary yellow forewing spot and dark purplish brown ground color of D. leuconotella

• leaf-folder
• goldenrod specialist
• shelter-building caterpillar

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Host plant and habitat effects on behavior, survival, and growth of early instar Dichomeris leuconotella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), leaf-folders on goldenrods
• Adaptive trade‐offs of leaf folding in Dichomeris caterpillars on goldenrods