Leaf-miner
Guides
Bucculatrix thurberiella
Cotton Leaf Perforator
Bucculatrix thurberiella, commonly known as the cotton leaf perforator, is a minute moth in the family Bucculatricidae. The species was described by August Busck in 1914. Native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, it has been introduced to Hawaii. Adults have a wingspan of 7–9 mm. Larvae are leaf miners that feed internally within host plant foliage.
Bucculatrix transversata
Bucculatrix transversata is a minute moth in the family Bucculatricidae, first described by Annette Frances Braun in 1910. It is known only from California, with a wingspan of approximately 7 mm. The species is associated with Ambrosia psilostachya (western ragweed), on which its larvae feed. Adults are active in July, with larval development occurring in October.
Bucculatrix trifasciella
Three-banded ribbed cocoon-maker moth
Bucculatrix trifasciella is a small moth in the family Bucculatricidae, first described by James Brackenridge Clemens in 1866. The larvae are leaf miners on oak (Quercus) species, creating distinctive feeding patterns within leaf tissue. The species is found in eastern North America, with records from the northeastern United States and Ontario, Canada.
Calliprora
Calliprora is a genus of gelechiid moths in the subfamily Thiotrichinae, established by Meyrick in 1914. The genus contains approximately 12 described species, primarily Neotropical in distribution. One species, C. leucaenae, has been documented as a significant pest of Leucaena leucocephala in Florida, where larvae function as blotch-miners and leaf-tiers. The genus was transferred to Thiotrichinae based on distinctive genital morphology including anellus lobes and sternum VIII characteristics.
Callisto denticulella
Garden Apple Slender
Callisto denticulella is a small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. Adults are active from May to June and have a wingspan of approximately 11 mm. The species is notable for its distinctive wing pattern featuring white triangular striae on a brown forewing. Larvae are specialized miners of Malus leaves, with additional records from Crataegus, Cotoneaster, and Pyrus. The species has a broad distribution across Europe, eastern North America, and parts of Russia.
Caloptilia
leaf cone moths, leaf blotch miner moths
Caloptilia is a genus of small moths in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as leaf cone moths or leaf blotch miner moths. Larvae are leaf miners that typically feed internally on leaf tissue during early instars, then later instars roll or fold leaves into protective cones or shelters where they complete development and pupate. The genus contains numerous species, many of which are host-specific to particular tree or shrub genera. Several species have become economically significant as pests of ornamental and horticultural plants, including Caloptilia fraxinella on ash trees and Caloptilia azaleella on azaleas.
Caloptilia acerifoliella
Caloptilia acerifoliella is a leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. It is known from limited records in Colorado and Utah in the United States. The larvae feed on Acer species, creating blotch mines in leaves. The species was described by Chambers in 1875.
Caloptilia anthobaphes
A leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, found in eastern North America. The larvae feed on Vaccinium species, creating mines in leaves. Adults are attracted to ultraviolet light sources. The species was described by Edward Meyrick in 1921.
Caloptilia azaleella
Azalea Leafminer Moth, azalea leaf miner
Caloptilia azaleella is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the azalea leaf miner. Native to Japan, it has been introduced globally through the horticultural trade of azalea plants and is now established in Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand. The species is a specialist herbivore whose larvae mine and roll leaves of Rhododendron species. It is frequently encountered in gardens, greenhouses, and sheltered urban plantings.
Caloptilia belfragella
Dogwood Caloptilia Moth
Caloptilia belfragella is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the Dogwood Caloptilia Moth. Its larvae are leaf miners that feed on several host plants including dogwoods (Cornus), staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina), and blueberries (Vaccinium). The species occurs in eastern North America from Quebec south to Texas.
Caloptilia bimaculatella
Maple Caloptilia Moth
Caloptilia bimaculatella is a small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. It is known from eastern North America, with records from Canada (Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia) and the eastern United States. The species has a wingspan of 9–10 mm. Larvae feed on red maple (Acer rubrum), creating blotch mines in the leaves.
Caloptilia blandella
Walnut Caloptilia Moth
Caloptilia blandella is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the Walnut Caloptilia Moth. It has a wingspan of approximately 9 mm. The species is distributed across eastern North America, with records from Canada (Québec) and several U.S. states including Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maine, Maryland, Texas, and Kentucky. Larvae are leaf miners that feed on shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) and black walnut (Juglans nigra).
Caloptilia burgessiella
Dogwood Conical Leafroller Moth
Caloptilia burgessiella is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the Dogwood Conical Leafroller Moth. The larvae are leaf miners that feed on dogwoods (Cornus species) and blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum). The species occurs in northeastern North America and has been recorded as far west as California.
Caloptilia burserella
Caloptilia burserella is a leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. The species is known from Florida, USA and Cuba. Its larvae feed on leaves of Bursera gummifera, Bursera simaruba, and Persea americana, creating characteristic blotch mines.
Caloptilia canadensisella
Caloptilia canadensisella is a leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. It is known from eastern Canada, specifically Nova Scotia and Québec. The larvae feed on Cornus canadensis (bunchberry), creating mines in the leaves of this host plant. The species was described by James Halliday McDunnough in 1956.
Caloptilia coroniella
Caloptilia coroniella is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae, known from eastern Canada and the northeastern and midwestern United States. The larvae are leaf miners that feed on birch species (Betula), creating distinctive blotch mines on the leaves. Adults are attracted to ultraviolet light and have been documented during summer moth surveys.
Caloptilia fraxinella
Ash Leaf Cone Roller, Ash Leaf Cone Roller Moth
Caloptilia fraxinella is a leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. Native to North America, it has become a significant pest of horticultural ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) in Canadian Prairie cities and parts of the United States. The species exhibits an unusual life history with a 9-month adult reproductive diapause; adults eclose in summer, overwinter, and mate the following spring. Larvae mine ash leaves and eventually roll leaflets into cones for pupation.
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.
Caloptilia invariabilis
Cherry Leaf-cone Caterpillar Moth
Caloptilia invariabilis is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the cherry leaf-cone caterpillar moth. The species has a wingspan of approximately 15 mm. Its larvae are leaf miners that feed on several Prunus species, creating distinctive mines that begin as linear tracks and terminate in small underside blotches. The species is known from scattered localities in Canada and the United States.
Caloptilia nondeterminata
Caloptilia nondeterminata is a species of leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. It has been documented in Oregon and Washington in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. The larvae are known to feed on Ribes species, creating mines in the leaves of their host plants. Like other members of the genus Caloptilia, it likely undergoes the typical gracillariid life cycle involving an initial sap-feeding mine followed by a feeding stage where the larva rolls or ties leaves.
Caloptilia ostryaeella
Ironwood Leafcone Moth
Caloptilia ostryaeella is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the Ironwood Leafcone Moth. The species is known from eastern North America, with records from Québec, Canada, and several states in the northeastern and midwestern United States. Its larvae are specialized leaf miners that feed on species of hophornbeam (Ostrya) and hornbeam (Carpinus).
Caloptilia ovatiella
Caloptilia ovatiella is a leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, described by Opler in 1969. The species is endemic to California, United States. Larvae are specialized feeders on sumac species (Rhus) and laurel sumac (Malosma laurina), creating distinctive blotch mines in host leaves. Like other Caloptilia species, adults likely exhibit the characteristic resting posture with forewings held roof-like over the body.
Caloptilia packardella
Caloptilia packardella is a small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. The species is known from Quebec, Canada, and several northeastern and midwestern U.S. states. Its larvae feed on maple species (Acer), creating blotch mines in leaves.
Caloptilia palustriella
Caloptilia palustriella is a leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, known only from California. The species was described by Braun in 1910. Its larvae feed on willows (Salix species), creating mines within the leaves.
Caloptilia populetorum
clouded slender
Caloptilia populetorum is a small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the clouded slender. Despite its scientific name suggesting an association with poplars, the larvae feed exclusively on birch leaves (Betula species). The species is found across most of Europe and extends into parts of Russia. Adults are active from late summer through spring, overwintering as adults.
Caloptilia porphyretica
blueberry leafminer
Caloptilia porphyretica is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the blueberry leafminer. It is documented from North Carolina and New Jersey, where it is recognized as a frequent pest in commercial highbush blueberry operations. The species produces at least three generations annually. Larvae are leaf miners, feeding internally on leaf tissue of host plants.
Caloptilia reticulata
Caloptilia reticulata is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae, known exclusively from California, United States. The larvae are leaf miners on oaks, specifically documented on Quercus agrifolia (coast live oak) and Quercus wislizeni (interior live oak). As with other Caloptilia species, the larvae likely create blotch mines within oak leaves and may fold or roll leaves in later instars.
Caloptilia sassafrasella
Sassafras Caloptilia Moth
Caloptilia sassafrasella is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae. The species is a specialist herbivore whose larvae mine leaves of sassafras trees (Sassafras spp.). Native to eastern North America, it has been documented from Canada south to Florida and west to Texas. Adults are nocturnal and attracted to light. The species was first described by Chambers in 1876.
Caloptilia serotinella
Cherry Leafroller Moth
A small moth in the family Gracillariidae known for its distinctive leaf-rolling larval behavior. The caterpillar constructs leaf rolls on cherry and related host plants by spinning silk strands between opposing leaf surfaces, generating collective force exceeding 0.1 N to draw leaves into tight cylinders. Adults are attracted to ultraviolet light and have been documented at moth-lighting events in North America.
Caloptilia stigmatella
Willow Leafcone Caterpillar Moth
A small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae with a wingspan of 12–14 mm. Adults display distinctive red-brown forewings with a triangular white median costal blotch marked with blackish dots, and grey hindwings. The species has two adult flight periods annually and larvae feed on leaves of willows, poplars, and bog myrtle. It occurs across the Holarctic region, excluding the Balkan Peninsula.
Caloptilia strictella
Caloptilia strictella is a species of microlepidopteran moth in the family Gracillariidae. It is known from scattered records across northern and eastern North America, including the Canadian provinces of Manitoba, Québec, Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Northwest Territories, as well as Maine in the United States. Like other members of its genus, it is likely a leaf-mining species, though specific host plant associations remain undocumented.
Caloptilia suberinella
Caloptilia suberinella is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae, first described by Tengström in 1848. The species has a Palearctic distribution across northern and central Europe, extending eastward through Russia to China, with a recent confirmed record from British Columbia in North America. Like other members of its genus, it likely has leaf-mining larvae, though specific host plant associations for this species remain undocumented. Adults are nocturnal and have been observed at ultraviolet light sources.
Caloptilia superbifrontella
Witch-hazel Caloptilia
Caloptilia superbifrontella is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae, commonly known as the Witch-hazel Caloptilia. The species is restricted to eastern North America, with records from Canada (Québec and Nova Scotia) and the eastern and central United States. Larvae are leaf miners that feed exclusively on Hamamelis species, including witch-hazel and related shrubs.
Caloptilia triadicae
Chinese Tallow Leaf Miner
Caloptilia triadicae is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae, described by Davis in 2013. It is a leaf-mining specialist on Chinese tallow tree (Triadica sebifera), an invasive plant in the southeastern United States. The species is adventive (non-native) in North America and has been investigated for its potential as a biological control agent. Its seasonal abundance patterns and parasitoid associations have been studied in Florida.
Caloptilia umbratella
Caloptilia umbratella is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae, known from eastern North America. The larvae are leaf miners on maple species, specifically Acer rubrum and Acer saccharum. There are probably two generations per year. The species is attracted to ultraviolet light, a trait common among nocturnal moths in this family.
Caloptilia undescribed-nr-umbratella
An undescribed species in the genus Caloptilia, closely related to C. umbratella. Like other Caloptilia species, it is a leaf blotch miner moth whose larvae create distinctive feeding patterns on host plant leaves. The species remains taxonomically unresolved pending formal description.
Caloptilia undescribed-rhus
An undescribed species in the genus Caloptilia, recognized as a leaf blotch miner moth associated with Rhus (sumac) host plants. As a member of the Gracillariidae family, it exhibits the characteristic larval behavior of creating blotch mines within leaf tissue. The species remains formally undescribed in scientific literature, known primarily from observations and informal documentation.
Caloptilia undescribed-ribes
An undescribed species of leaf blotch miner moth in the genus Caloptilia, known to feed on currants and gooseberries (Ribes). This species belongs to a large genus of small moths whose larvae create distinctive blotch mines in leaves. The specific epithet 'undescribed-ribes' indicates its host plant association prior to formal scientific description.
Caloptilia vacciniella
Caloptilia vacciniella is a small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. The species is known from eastern North America, with records from Quebec, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Maine, Michigan, and Massachusetts. Larvae are specialized feeders on Vaccinium species, including lowbush blueberry, highbush blueberry, and hillside blueberry.
Caloptilia violacella
Tick-Trefoil Caloptilia Moth
Caloptilia violacella is a small gracillariid moth with a wingspan of approximately 10 mm. The species is distributed across the eastern and central United States, with records from Illinois, Missouri, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, New York, and Texas. Larvae are leaf miners that feed on leguminous host plants including pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), tick-trefoils (Desmodium species), and Meibomia dillenii. The common name "Tick-Trefoil Caloptilia Moth" reflects its association with Desmodium host plants.
Calycomyza
Calycomyza is a genus of leaf-mining flies in the family Agromyzidae, containing approximately 90 described species. Larvae feed internally within leaf tissue, creating distinctive serpentine or blotch mines. The genus has a broad geographic distribution spanning the Nearctic, Neotropical, Palearctic, Oriental, and Afrotropical regions. Several species have been documented as agricultural pests or biological control agents for invasive plants.
Calycomyza ambrosiae
Calycomyza ambrosiae is a leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae. The larvae create distinctive feeding tunnels within leaves of host plants in the Asteraceae family. The species name refers to its association with Ambrosia and related genera. It is known from the United States.
Calycomyza artemisivora
Calycomyza artemisivora is a leaf-mining fly species in the family Agromyzidae, described in 2018. The species name refers to its association with Artemisia host plants. As a member of Calycomyza, it is part of a genus containing numerous leaf-miner species that create distinctive feeding patterns within plant tissues.
Calycomyza avira
Calycomyza avira is a species of leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae, described from North America in 2018. Like other members of its genus, it likely produces serpentine or blotch mines in living leaf tissue. The species was established based on morphological distinctions from congeners and associated host plant records. It represents part of a diverse radiation of Calycomyza species specialized on Asteraceae hosts.
Calycomyza cynoglossi
Calycomyza cynoglossi is a leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae, a group known for larvae that tunnel through plant leaf tissue. The species was described in 1956 and is recorded from Indiana. Like congeners, it likely produces distinctive serpentine or blotchy mines on host plant foliage, though specific host associations remain poorly documented.
Calycomyza eupatoriphaga
Calycomyza eupatoriphaga is a leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae, described in 2018 from specimens reared from host plants in the genus Eupatorium. The species name reflects its specialized association with boneset and related plants (Asteraceae). As with other Calycomyza species, the larvae produce distinctive serpentine or blotch mines in leaves. The species is known from eastern North America.
Calycomyza eupatorivora
Chromolaena Leaf-mining Fly
A leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae, Calycomyza eupatorivora was introduced to South Africa as a biological control agent for the invasive weed Chromolaena odorata. Larvae feed internally on leaf tissue, creating characteristic mines. The species exhibits distinct habitat preferences and seasonal activity patterns that influence its effectiveness as a biocontrol agent.
Calycomyza humeralis
aster leafminer
Calycomyza humeralis, commonly known as the aster leafminer, is a species of leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae. The species was first described by Roser in 1840. It is known for its larval habit of creating distinctive mines in the leaves of host plants, particularly those in the Asteraceae family. The species has a broad global distribution, having been recorded across multiple continents including Europe, North America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania.
Calycomyza hyptidis
Calycomyza hyptidis is a leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae, first described by Spencer in 1966. The species name references its original association with Hyptis species. It has been documented as a pest of cultivated aromatic herbs, specifically reported on basil (Ocimum basilicum) in Mexico and spearmint (Mentha spicata).
Calycomyza ipomaeae
Calycomyza ipomaeae is a small fly species in the family Agromyzidae, a group known as leaf-miner flies. The species was described by Frost in 1931. It has been recorded across the Americas from Canada to Brazil, including the West Indies. Like other members of its genus, it likely develops as a leaf miner on host plants.