Acrocercops astericola

The specific epithet 'astericola' indicates association with Aster; larvae can be identified by their tentiform blotch mines on asteraceous host plants. Adults are small, with wingspans typical of Gracillariidae (generally under 10 mm). Specific adult diagnostic features are not well documented in available sources.

Associated with habitats supporting asteraceous host plants (Asteraceae), including meadows, open woodlands, and disturbed areas where asters grow.

Canada: Québec, Nova Scotia, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick; United States: Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York.

Larvae are leaf miners on Asteraceae; specific host plant records require verification.

• Asteraceae - host plantfamily-level association based on specific epithet; specific host genera require confirmation

Complete metamorphosis with leaf-mining larval stage; pupation occurs within the mine or in soil. Specific timing of generations not documented in available sources.

Larvae create tentiform blotch mines—blotches on the leaf underside with silk webbing that causes the epidermis to tent upward. Mining occurs between leaf epidermal layers.

Leaf miner; larval feeding creates localized damage to host plant foliage. Population impacts on host plants are generally minor.

Occasional minor pest of ornamental asters; not considered economically significant. Provides ecological indicator value for asteraceous plant communities.

• Other Acrocercops speciesMany congeners are also leaf miners on Asteraceae; identification to species requires examination of genitalia or larval host/mine characteristics
• Phyllonorycter speciesAlso create tentiform mines but on different host plant families; mine shape and host association help distinguish

• leaf miner
• Gracillariidae
• microlepidoptera
• Asteraceae
• North America
• tentiform mine

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life