Chilocampyla dyariella

Adults identified by small size (7–8.5 mm wingspan) and Florida distribution. Larval mines are diagnostic: an initial narrow linear track running 25 mm along the leaf margin, then turning inward and abruptly expanding into a large bladder-like blotch that nearly covers the entire leaf. The mine appears whitish-green on the underside, purple-discolored on the upper side, with inflated, air-cushion texture due to separated epidermis layers. Interior of mine shows small whitish pearly fungal-like growth. Cocoon is dense, oval, yellowish-grey, spun in a slight leaf fold.

Habitats supporting host plants in the genus Eugenia, including coastal and inland areas of Florida where Eugenia axillaris, E. foetida, E. garberi, E. procera, and E. rhombea occur. Specific habitat requirements beyond host plant presence are not documented.

Endemic to Florida, United States. No records from other states or countries are known.

Larvae feed on Eugenia species (Myrtaceae), specifically documented on Eugenia axillaris, Eugenia foetida, Eugenia garberi, Eugenia procera, and Eugenia rhombea. Adults do not feed; mouthparts are reduced or non-functional as in most Gracillariidae.

• Eugenia axillaris - larval hostleaf mine host
• Eugenia foetida - larval hostleaf mine host
• Eugenia garberi - larval hostleaf mine host
• Eugenia procera - larval hostleaf mine host
• Eugenia rhombea - larval hostleaf mine host

Complete metamorphosis with egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages. Larva mines leaf for feeding period, then exits mine when full-grown, changes to vivid wine-red coloration, and spins a dense oval yellowish-grey cocoon in a slight fold on the leaf surface. Pupa initially white, darkening to adult coloration before emergence. Number of generations per year is unknown.

Larvae are internal leaf miners, feeding between the upper and lower epidermis of Eugenia leaves. The mining behavior creates a characteristic bladder-like inflation of the leaf tissue. When disturbed, the inflated mine yields to pressure like an air cushion.

Herbivore specializing on Eugenia species. As a leaf miner, it causes localized damage to host plant foliage. The fungal-like growth observed inside mines suggests possible association with microorganisms, though the nature of this relationship is undescribed.

No known economic or agricultural significance. Potential minor pest of ornamental Eugenia plantings in Florida, though damage appears limited and not documented as problematic.

• Other Gracillariidae leaf miners on MyrtaceaeSimilar mining habits on related host plants, but C. dyariella is distinguished by its specific Florida distribution, Eugenia host specialization, and the distinctive bladder-like blotch mine morphology with marginal linear start.
• Other Chilocampyla speciesCongeners may share general morphology, but C. dyariella is the only described species in the genus with documented biology; other species in the genus are poorly known or from different geographic regions.

• leaf miner
• Florida endemic
• Eugenia specialist
• Gracillariidae
• microlepidoptera

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