Blotch-mine
Guides
Agromyza parvicornis
Corn Blotch Leafminer
A leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae, primarily associated with corn (Zea mays) cultivation. The species creates distinctive blotch-shaped mines in host plant foliage. It is considered a minor and sporadic agricultural pest with limited economic impact. Documented from North American corn-growing regions and more recently recorded in Mexico.
Caloptilia hypericella
A small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae with a wingspan of approximately 8 mm. The species is specialized on Hypericum (St. John's wort) host plants, with larvae creating blotch mines in leaves. It occurs in eastern North America from Québec to the Ohio River Valley.
Cameraria corylisella
Hazel Blotchminer
Cameraria corylisella is a minute leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the Hazel Blotchminer. It is restricted to eastern North America, where larvae create blotch mines in leaves of hornbeams, hazels, and hophornbeams (genera Carpinus, Corylus, and Ostrya). Adults are active in spring and early summer.
Coptodisca
Coptodisca is a genus of small moths in the family Heliozelidae, established by Walsingham in 1895. Species are leafminers whose larvae feed internally on leaves of woody plants, creating distinctive blotch mines. Several species have become invasive pests in Europe, particularly C. lucifluella and C. juglandiella on walnut (Juglans) and related trees. The genus is native to the Nearctic region with approximately 20 described species.
Coptodisca lucifluella
walnut shield bearer
Coptodisca lucifluella is a small leaf-mining moth in the family Heliozelidae, native to eastern North America and invasive in Europe since 2010. Larvae create distinctive blotch-shaped mines on walnut and hickory foliage, then construct oval silk-attached cases for pupation. The species has undergone a documented host shift in Europe, expanding from its native specialization on Carya (pecan) to primarily exploiting Juglans regia (common walnut) and occasionally other Juglandaceae. It completes 3–4 generations annually in Italy, with autumn generations producing substantially more mines than spring generations.
Metallus
leaf-mining sawflies
Metallus is a genus of leaf-mining sawflies in the family Tenthredinidae. Species are distributed across Europe and North America. The genus is characterized by larvae that create blotch mines on Rubus leaves. Metallus pumilus, the best-documented species, is oligophagous on Rubus species with two generations per year.
Phyllonorycter intermixta
leaf blotch miner moth
Phyllonorycter intermixta is a small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. The species is known from a limited range in northeastern North America, including Québec and several New England and midwestern U.S. states. Larvae are specialized herbivores that create blotch mines in leaves of American hazelnut. Adults are tiny moths attracted to light.
Phyllonorycter lucidicostella
Lesser Maple Leaf Blotch Miner, Lesser Maple Leaf Blotch Miner Moth
A microlepidopteran leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. Adults are minute with a wingspan of approximately 6.5 mm. Larvae feed as leaf miners on maple species (Acer), creating blotch mines on host foliage. The species is documented across eastern North America from Ontario and Québec south to Alabama and North Carolina.
Phyllonorycter maestingella
Beech Midget
Phyllonorycter maestingella is a minute leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. The species is bivoltine, with adults flying in spring and late summer. Larvae are specialized miners of beech leaves, creating distinctive blotch mines on the leaf underside. The species has a transcontinental distribution spanning Europe, Russia, and western North America.
Phyllonorycter trinotella
Red Maple Blotchminer
Phyllonorycter trinotella is a micro-moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the Red Maple Blotchminer. The species has a wingspan of approximately 5 mm. Larvae are leaf miners that feed on several Acer species, creating blotch mines on the leaves. The species is known from eastern Canada and the northeastern and midwestern United States.
Phyllonorycter tritaenianella
A small North American leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. The species creates distinctive blotch mines on Ostrya species, with larvae developing through a flat blotch stage before the mine becomes tentiform as the leaf folds over. Adults are known from the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada.
Stilbosis ostryaeella
ironwood leafminer moth, ironwood leafminer
Stilbosis ostryaeella is a small moth in the family Cosmopterigidae. Its larvae are leafminers specialized on ironwood (Ostrya virginiana), creating distinctive blotch mines between leaf veins. The species is distributed across eastern North America, with adults active from late spring through summer. It overwinters as a pupa in leaf litter.
Tischeria quercitella
Oak Blotch Miner Moth
Tischeria quercitella is a leaf-mining moth in the family Tischeriidae. Its larvae create distinctive blotch mines on the leaves of oaks (Quercus) and chestnuts (Castanea). The species is documented across eastern North America, with records from Ontario south to Virginia and west to Missouri and Illinois.