Paraleucoptera

North America including western and eastern regions; specifically recorded from California, Arizona, Colorado, and Vermont. Additional records from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Larvae feed on leaves of Populus deltoides (eastern cottonwood), mining the leaf tissue. Larvae have been observed feeding communally in full-depth mines.

• Populus deltoides - larval hosteastern cottonwood; primary host for leaf mining

Females deposit whitish, partially translucent eggs in clusters on leaves. Larvae create full-depth mines, often feeding communally. Mature larvae reach 5.0–6.5 mm long and 0.8–0.9 mm wide. Final-instar larvae exit mines and spin white, spindle-shaped cocoons beneath two parallel silken bands that meet in the middle; cocoons are spun on leaves or larvae drop to ground or lower vegetation to pupate. Overwintering occurs in the pupal stage.

Final-instar larvae have been observed descending from trees on silken threads, which can create nuisance conditions for humans walking beneath infested trees.

Leaf miner; larval feeding can cause significant defoliation of host poplars, with heavy infestations damaging entire branches.

Economic pest of poplar trees; heavy infestations can defoliate branches. Final-instar larvae descending on silk threads have been reported as a nuisance to humans in Arizona and Colorado.

• Proleucoptera smilaciellaSimilar adult markings; distinguished by larger size, narrower and more oblique first fascia (streak), different position of first fascia relative to wing base, presence of three or four dark lines converging on apex (often absent in worn specimens), and smaller silvery-gray spot completely surrounded by golden yellow band

• micro moth
• leaf miner
• pest
• Populus

• BugGuide
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• Catalogue of Life
• What a Micro Moth! | Bug Squad