Leaf-miner
Guides
Phyllonorycter fitchella
A small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae with a wingspan of 7.5–8 mm. Larvae create mines in leaves of Quercus (oak) species. Adults are active from March to October in at least some portions of the range.
Phyllonorycter fragilella
Phyllonorycter fragilella is a small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, with a wingspan of 8.5–9 mm. The species is known from eastern Canada and the north-central and northeastern United States. Larvae feed on honeysuckles (Lonicera), snowberries (Symphoricarpos), and milkberry (Chiococca alba), creating mines within host plant leaves.
Phyllonorycter holodisci
Phyllonorycter holodisci is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae, described by Annette Braun in 1939. The species is endemic to western North America, with confirmed records from California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and British Columbia. Its larvae are specialized leaf miners that feed exclusively on Holodiscus discolor, a shrub commonly known as ocean spray or creambush. The mine is constructed on the upper surface of the host leaf.
Phyllonorycter incanella
Phyllonorycter incanella is a micro-moth in the family Gracillariidae, known from scattered locations in western and eastern North America. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 9 mm. The species is a leaf miner, with larvae feeding on alder species.
Phyllonorycter insignis
Phyllonorycter insignis is a minute leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, known from disjunct populations in California and Maine, United States. The species has a wingspan of approximately 9 mm. Larvae are specialized herbivores that create blotch mines within the leaves of host plants in the genera Erechtites and Ceanothus.
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 kearfottella
Phyllonorycter kearfottella is a minute leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, with a wingspan of approximately 7 mm. The species is restricted to the eastern and northwestern United States, where its larvae create blotch mines on leaves of Castanea species. It was described by Annette Braun in 1908.
Phyllonorycter ledella
Labrador Tea Leaf Miner
Phyllonorycter ledella is a micro-moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the Labrador Tea Leaf Miner. It is a small leaf-mining species with a wingspan of 9–10 mm. The species has a disjunct distribution across North America and is listed as endangered in Connecticut.
Phyllonorycter leucothorax
Phyllonorycter leucothorax is a micro-moth species in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as leaf blotch miner moths. The genus is characterized by extremely small adult size and larval stages that mine within leaves. This species was described by Walsingham in 1907 and is known from the western United States.
Phyllonorycter lucetiella
Basswood Miner Moth
Phyllonorycter lucetiella is a micro-moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the Basswood Miner Moth. Adults are extremely small with a wingspan of 6–7 mm. The species is native to eastern North America, where larvae create distinctive tentiform leaf mines on host plants. It is one of many Phyllonorycter species specialized in mining leaves of deciduous trees.
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 manzanita
Phyllonorycter manzanita is a leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. The species is endemic to California and was described by Braun in 1925. Larvae create characteristic mines in the leaves of manzanita species (Arctostaphylos), with documented hosts including Arctostaphylos glauca and Arctostaphylos manzanita.
Phyllonorycter mariaeella
Phyllonorycter mariaeella is a micro-moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as leaf blotch miner moths. The species is known from limited localities in Canada and the United States. Larvae are leaf miners that feed on species of Symphoricarpos (coralberry/snowberry). Adults are tiny, with a wingspan of 8-8.5 mm.
Phyllonorycter martiella
Phyllonorycter martiella is a micro-moth in the family Gracillariidae, known from eastern North America. Adults are extremely small with a wingspan of approximately 6.8 mm. The species is a leaf-mining specialist, with larvae feeding on birch species.
Phyllonorycter memorabilis
Phyllonorycter memorabilis is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae, described by Braun in 1939. It is endemic to California, United States. The larvae are leaf miners that feed on species of Lathyrus, creating distinctive mines within the leaf tissue.
Phyllonorycter mildredae
A small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, described in 2001. Adults have forewings 2.4–3 mm in length. The species is likely more widespread than current records indicate, with confirmed reports from Washington D.C., Kentucky, and Ohio. Larvae create blotch mines on leaves of poplars and willows.
Phyllonorycter nipigon
Balsam Poplar Leaf Blotch Miner
Phyllonorycter nipigon is a small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. The species is widespread across northern North America, with larvae that create blotch mines in leaves of various Populus species. Adults are active in late summer and fall, with one generation per year. The species is named after Lake Nipigon in Ontario, Canada.
Phyllonorycter occitanica
Phyllonorycter occitanica is a micro-moth in the family Gracillariidae, known from Texas, United States. The larvae are leaf miners that feed on elm species (Ulmus), specifically Ulmus fulva and Ulmus rubra. Like other members of its genus, it produces characteristic blotch mines on the leaves of its host plants. The species was described by Frey and Boll in 1876.
Phyllonorycter olivaeformis
A micro-moth in the family Gracillariidae with a wingspan of approximately 6.5 mm. The species is known from the northeastern and midwestern United States. Larvae are leaf miners that feed on pecan (Carya illinoinensis).
Phyllonorycter ostryaefoliella
Wrinkled Hophornbeam Blotch Miner Moth
Phyllonorycter ostryaefoliella is a minute moth in the family Gracillariidae, known from eastern North America. Adults have a wingspan of 6–6.5 mm. The species is specialized on Ostrya species as larval hosts, with larvae mining the leaves of their host plant.
Phyllonorycter platani
London Midget, plane leaf miner
Phyllonorycter platani is a small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the London Midget or plane leaf miner. The species is notable for its association with Platanus (plane trees) as its larval host, creating distinctive blotch mines on leaves. It has been introduced to North America and is considered an invasive species in some regions. The moth has a wingspan of 8–10 mm and produces two generations annually in parts of its range.
Phyllonorycter propinquinella
cherry blotch miner moth, cherry blotchminer
Phyllonorycter propinquinella is a microlepidopteran moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the cherry blotch miner moth. It is a leaf-mining species whose larvae feed on black cherry (Prunus serotina). The species is restricted to northeastern North America, with records from Canada and the eastern United States.
Phyllonorycter quercialbella
Phyllonorycter quercialbella is a minute leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 7 mm. The species is restricted to eastern North America, where larvae feed as leaf miners on several oak species. It was first described by Fitch in 1859.
Phyllonorycter rileyella
Phyllonorycter rileyella is a minute leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, described by Chambers in 1875. The species is known from scattered localities in the eastern and central United States. Its larvae create mines in oak leaves, with confirmed host records from multiple Quercus species. Adults are among the smallest moths in North America, with a wingspan of only 6–8 mm.
Phyllonorycter salicifoliella
aspen blotch miner
Phyllonorycter salicifoliella is a North American micro-moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the aspen blotch miner. Adults are small with forewings 3–4 mm in length. The species is notable for its larval leaf-mining behavior on willows and poplars, with larvae feeding internally within leaf tissue. It exhibits two generations per year in most of its range, with adult activity peaking in summer and again in late summer through autumn.
Phyllonorycter scudderella
Phyllonorycter scudderella is a micro-moth in the family Gracillariidae. It is widespread across North America, with populations in the east from Ontario to Ohio and in the west from south-eastern Alaska to Oregon. The species is known to have two generations per year in at least part of its range. Larvae are leaf miners on willow species.
Phyllonorycter symphoricarpaeella
A minute leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae with a wingspan of 5.5–6 mm. The species is known from scattered localities across the United States. Larvae are specialized miners of Symphoricarpos (snowberry) leaves, creating distinctive tentiform mines on the leaf undersides.
Phyllonorycter tiliacella
Basswood Round-blotch Miner Moth
Phyllonorycter tiliacella is a small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. The larvae create distinctive tentiform mines on the upper surfaces of basswood (Tilia) leaves, appearing white with dense dark brown speckling. The species has a bivoltine life cycle with different pupal strategies for summer and winter broods.
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.
Phyllonorycter viburnella
Phyllonorycter viburnella is a micro-moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as leaf blotch miner moths. The species was described by Braun in 1923. It is known from a limited distribution in northeastern North America, with records from Quebec, Connecticut, and Ohio. As a member of Phyllonorycter, its larvae likely create blotch mines in leaves, though specific host plant associations for this species have not been documented in the provided sources.
Phylloporia bistrigella
Striped Bright
A small moth in the family Incurvariidae with a wingspan of 7–9 mm. Recognizable by two whitish fasciae on the forewings. The larvae are leaf miners on birch species.
Phyllotreta chalybeipennis
Phyllotreta chalybeipennis is a flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. The species is distributed in the Caribbean and North America. Both larvae and adults are associated with the host plant Cakile edentula (American sea rocket), with larvae mining leaves and adults feeding on foliage. Like other members of the genus Phyllotreta, it possesses enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping.
Phytoliriomyza clara
Phytoliriomyza clara is a species of leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae, first described by Melander in 1913. It is known to feed on bracken (Pteridium aquilinum), making it a specialist herbivore of this widespread fern genus. The species occurs in North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Like other members of its family, it likely produces characteristic serpentine or blotch mines in host plant foliage during its larval stage.
Phytoliriomyza dorsata
Phytoliriomyza dorsata is a species of leaf-miner fly in the family Agromyzidae. It is a small dipteran with wing lengths ranging from 1.9–2.6 mm. The species has a broad distribution across the Palearctic region, with records from Europe, Russia, Iran, and Japan, and has also been reported in North America where it may be introduced.
Phytoliriomyza felti
Phytoliriomyza felti is a leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae, specialized on ferns. The larvae create distinctive mines in fronds of various fern species. It has been documented on Pellaea atropurpurea (purple-stem cliffbrake) and Asplenium species, and likely occurs on additional fern hosts. This species represents one of the relatively few agromyzid flies with documented fern-feeding specialization.
Phytoliriomyza melampyga
Jewelweed Leaf-miner Fly
Phytoliriomyza melampyga is a small fly in the family Agromyzidae, commonly known as the Jewelweed Leaf-miner Fly. The species is recognized by distinctive yellow markings on the mesonotum, scutellum, and frons. Its larvae are leaf miners that feed on Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera). The species has been recorded across North America and Europe.
Phytoliriomyza pulchella
Phytoliriomyza pulchella is a species of leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae, described by Spencer in 1986. The genus Phytoliriomyza contains fern-feeding specialists, and this species is part of a group of agromyzid flies whose larvae create distinctive mines in fern fronds. Very little published information exists specifically for P. pulchella, though its congeners are well-documented as fern miners.
Phytomyza
Phytomyza is a genus of leaf-mining flies in the family Agromyzidae, comprising at least 170 described species. Larvae develop as miners within living plant leaves, creating distinctive serpentine or blotchy galleries between the upper and lower epidermis. Adults are small, typically black or dark-colored flies resembling tiny houseflies. The genus exhibits high host specificity, with individual species often restricted to particular plant genera or families.
Phytomyza ditmani
Phytomyza ditmani is a species of leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae. The species is known from the District of Columbia. As a member of the genus Phytomyza, it likely shares the typical biology of related species: larvae feed internally within leaf tissue, creating characteristic serpentine mines. However, specific details of its host plants, life history, and ecology remain undocumented in the available sources.
Phytomyza glabricola
inkberry holly leafminer
Phytomyza glabricola is a leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae, endemic to the eastern United States. The species exhibits host-associated divergence on two sympatric holly species, Ilex glabra and I. coriacea, with populations on each host showing substantial genetic divergence and reproductive isolation. Development time differs dramatically between host races: 2-4 weeks with multiple generations per year on I. glabra versus 9-10 months with a single generation per year on I. coriacea. Despite these differences, adults from both hosts emerge synchronously in mid-January to mid-February. The species provides a well-documented case of ecological speciation via host shift.
Phytomyza gymnostoma
onion leaf miner, allium leafminer
Phytomyza gymnostoma is a leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae, commonly known as the onion leaf miner or allium leafminer. Native to mainland Europe, it has established invasive populations in England (first detected 2002) and North America (first detected December 2015 in Pennsylvania). The species is a significant agricultural pest specializing in Allium crops, including onions, garlic, shallots, and leeks. It is bivoltine, producing two generations annually, with adults active during spring and fall flight periods.
Phytomyza ilicicola
native holly leafminer, American Holly Leafminer
Phytomyza ilicicola is a specialist leaf-mining fly whose larvae create distinctive serpentine trails within the leaves of American holly (Ilex opaca). Adults are small black flies resembling houseflies that emerge in early spring, timed precisely with the appearance of tender new holly leaves. The species is notable for its intimate ecological relationship with its host plant, including the holly's defensive response of prematurely dropping heavily infested leaves.
Phytomyza ilicis
holly leaf miner, European Holly Leafminer
Phytomyza ilicis is a small agromyzid fly whose larvae create distinctive pale leaf mines in European holly (Ilex aquifolium). Native to Europe, it has been introduced to western North America where it became a significant pest of ornamental holly. The species is univoltine, with highly synchronized phenology: adults emerge in late spring to oviposit into the soft tissue of newly expanding leaves, and larvae feed internally until completing development the following spring. It has been extensively studied as a model system for understanding population regulation, density dependence, and multi-trophic interactions including parasitism and predation.
Phytomyza opacae
Native holly leafminer
Phytomyza opacae is a leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae. It is a specialist herbivore that develops within the leaves of holly species (Ilex). The larva creates distinctive serpentine mines visible on leaf surfaces. This species is closely associated with American holly (Ilex opaca) and related Ilex species.
Phytomyza ovalis
Phytomyza ovalis is a species of leaf miner fly in the family Agromyzidae. The species was described by Griffiths in 1975. As a member of the genus Phytomyza, it belongs to a group of flies whose larvae feed within plant leaves, creating distinctive mines or trails. The specific epithet 'ovalis' likely refers to some oval characteristic of the species, though the original description would be needed to confirm this.
Phytomyza palustris
Phytomyza palustris is a species of leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae, described by Eiseman and Lonsdale in 2018. Like other members of the genus Phytomyza, its larvae feed internally within leaves, creating distinctive tunnels or mines between the upper and lower leaf surfaces. The species epithet 'palustris' suggests an association with marshy or wetland habitats. Very few observations of this species have been recorded, indicating it may be rare, recently described, or poorly surveyed.
Phytomyza ranunculi
Ranunculus leaf-mining fly
Phytomyza ranunculi is a leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae that develops within leaves of Ranunculus plants (buttercups). Adults are approximately 2 mm long and highly variable in coloration, with several named color variants. The larvae are primarily leaf-miners, forming long, conspicuous white mines with frass arranged in close strings. The species is widespread in Europe and occurs in the Palearctic region. Pupae are heavily parasitized, with up to 75% of puparia attacked by parasitoid wasps.
Phytomyza solidaginivora
Phytomyza solidaginivora is a species of leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae. The species was described by Spencer in 1969. Records indicate it is known from Alberta, Canada. As a member of the genus Phytomyza, it is likely an internal feeder on plant tissue, though specific host associations for this species are not documented in the provided sources.