Paraleucoptera albella

The first golden streak is nearly squarish in shape, not three times as long as wide. This distinguishes it from Proleucoptera smilaciella, which has a much narrower first fascia that is more oblique and starts nearer the base. P. smilaciella is also larger overall. Proleucoptera smilaciella often shows three or four dark lines converging on the apex, which are rarely evident in P. albella. The silvery-gray spot in P. smilaciella is smaller than in P. albella and is completely surrounded before and above with golden yellow band, whereas in P. albella the black margin sometimes covers much of the underlying silver spot. Worn specimens of both species can be difficult to distinguish.

Adults are minute moths with a wingspan of approximately 4 mm. The head, thorax, and forewing ground color are snowy white, with a small snowy white tuft on the head. The antenna is pale fuscus with white apex and basal joint. The forewing features two short, pale golden streaks with dark margins: the first begins on the costa just beyond mid-wing and extends obliquely posteriorly to about mid-wing; the second occurs behind the first at about four-fifths. Both streaks join a pale golden region extending to the wing tip. A conspicuous silvery gray metallic spot near the anal angle is distinctly black-margined anteriorly and posteriorly. A short golden streak with thin black anterior margin adjoins this spot. The abdomen is white and banded above with golden fuscous.

Associated with stands of Populus deltoides (eastern cottonwood) and related poplar species. Larval habitat is within leaf mines; pupation occurs on leaves, on lower vegetation, or on the ground beneath silken bands.

North America, with records from throughout the commercial range of cottonwood. Documented from western North America (California, Arizona, Colorado) and eastern North America (Vermont, Manitoba, Alberta).

Larvae feed on Populus deltoides (eastern cottonwood), mining the leaves. Specific adult diet not documented.

• Populus deltoides - larval hosteastern cottonwood; larvae create full-depth leaf mines

Females deposit whitish, partially translucent eggs in clusters on leaves. Larvae are communal leaf miners, creating full-depth mines. Mature larvae measure 5.0–6.5 mm long and 0.8–0.9 mm wide. Upon maturity, each larva exits the mine and spins a white, spindle-shaped cocoon 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.

Larvae feed communally within leaf mines. Final-instar larvae have been observed descending from trees on silken threads. High-density populations can result in larvae dropping to the ground in large numbers.

Leaf miner; larval feeding can cause significant defoliation of host trees. Heavy infestations can damage entire branches.

Economic pest of cottonwood and poplar plantings; heavy infestations can cause branch defoliation. Final-instar larvae descending on silken threads have been reported as a nuisance to humans walking near infested trees.

• Proleucoptera smilaciellaSimilar wing pattern but larger size; first golden streak (fascia) much narrower (three times as long as wide versus nearly squarish in P. albella), more oblique, and starting nearer wing base; often shows three or four dark lines converging on apex; smaller silvery-gray spot completely surrounded by golden yellow band anteriorly and superiorly. Worn specimens difficult to distinguish.

• micro-moth
• leaf miner
• pest
• Populus

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• GBIF taxonomy match
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