Leaf-miner
Guides
Cryptolectica nr. insulariella
An undescribed species in the genus Cryptolectica, morphologically near C. insulariella. Belongs to the leaf-mining moth family Gracillariidae, whose larvae feed internally on plant tissue. The specific epithet indicates provisional status pending formal description.
Depressaria daucella
Dingy Flat-body
Depressaria daucella is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, commonly known as the Dingy Flat-body. Adults have a wingspan of 21–24 mm and exhibit a distinctive light brown, whitish-sprinkled forewing pattern with dark fuscous dashes. The species is notable for its bivoltine adult activity period, with adults flying from September through winter and again in spring to April. Larvae are leaf miners specializing on umbelliferous plants, particularly Oenanthe species.
Derocrepis carinata
Derocrepis carinata is a species of leaf-mining beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Hispinae. It belongs to the tribe Hispini, which contains beetles known for mining tissues within leaves rather than feeding externally. The species was described by Linell in 1897 and is native to North America. Like other members of its genus, it likely produces characteristic serpentine or blotch mines in host plant foliage.
Dialectica cordiella
Dialectica cordiella is a species of micro-moth in the family Gracillariidae, a group known for leaf-mining larvae. The species is documented from limited observations, with 33 records on iNaturalist. Like other members of its genus, it likely has larvae that feed internally on plant tissue, creating characteristic mines in leaves. Adult moths are small with narrow wings typical of the family.
Dichomeris bilobella
Bilobed Dichomeris Moth
Dichomeris bilobella is a small gelechiid moth with a wingspan of approximately 15 mm. It occurs across eastern and central North America from Nova Scotia to eastern Kansas. Adults are active from May through August. The larvae are leaf-feeders on goldenrods (Solidago) and asters (Aster).
Dichrorampha acuminatana
Sharp-winged Drill
Dichrorampha acuminatana is a small tortricid moth with a wingspan of 10–15 mm, found across Europe and the Near East. The species exhibits distinctive wing patterns with dark fuscous ground color, purplish tints, and ochreous irroration. Adults are active from May to September, with larvae feeding on Leucanthemum vulgare (oxeye daisy) and Tanacetum vulgare (tansy). The species has been well-documented in Belgium and the Netherlands, with over 2,000 iNaturalist observations.
Digitivalva
Digitivalva is a genus of small moths in the family Glyphipterigidae (subfamily Acrolepiinae), established by Gaedike in 1970. The genus comprises approximately 35 described species distributed across the Palearctic, Afrotropical, and Oriental regions. Several species have been studied for their specialized host plant associations with Asteraceae, and at least one species (D. delaireae) has been evaluated as a biological control agent for invasive Cape-ivy in North America.
Dyseriocrania griseocapitella
Chinquapin leaf-miner, Chinquapin Leafminer Moth
Dyseriocrania griseocapitella is a small moth in the family Eriocraniidae, commonly known as the Chinquapin leaf-miner. Adults are active from late February to late May, with males having slightly larger wingspans than females. The larvae are leaf miners on Castanea and Quercus species, creating distinctive mines that begin as narrow serpentine tracks before expanding into large blotches.
Ectoedemia
Ectoedemia is a genus of minute moths in the family Nepticulidae, established by August Busck in 1907. The genus comprises four subgenera: Ectoedemia, Etainia, Fomoria, and Zimmermannia. Species are distributed across multiple continents including Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas. The genus is notable for its leaf-mining larval ecology, with many species exhibiting narrow host plant specificity on trees and shrubs.
Nepticulidaemicrolepidopteraleaf-minerbark-minerhost-specificityparthenogenesisE.-argyropezaFagaceaeBetulaceaeQuercusspeciationsympatric-speciationphylogenomicsddRADclonal-diversitygall-inductioncecidian-stagesedentary-dispersalHolarctic-distributionGondwanan-distributionsubgenera:-Ectoedemia,-Etainia,-Fomoria,-ZimmermanniaEctoedemia argyropeza
Virgin Pigmy
A Holarctic microlepidopteran in the family Nepticulidae, characterized by parthenogenetic reproduction with extremely rare males. Adults are active in late spring. Larvae are leaf miners on aspen species, producing distinctive mines that persist on host leaves. The species exhibits clonal population structure with limited dispersal capacity.
Ectoedemia clemensella
Ectoedemia clemensella is a minute moth in the family Nepticulidae, characterized by its extremely small size and leaf-mining larval habit. It is known from a restricted range in the eastern United States. The species completes three generations annually and is tightly associated with American sycamore as its sole documented host plant.
Ectoedemia nyssaefoliella
Ectoedemia nyssaefoliella is a minute moth in the family Nepticulidae, known for its leaf-mining larvae that feed exclusively on black tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica). The species has been documented in Kentucky, Ohio, and North Carolina, with two to three generations annually. First-generation larvae complete development in June.
Ectoedemia platanella
sycamore leaf blotch miner
Ectoedemia platanella is a minute moth in the family Nepticulidae, commonly known as the sycamore leaf blotch miner. It is restricted to the eastern United States, where its larvae create distinctive blotch mines in leaves of Platanus species. The species is highly host-specific and represents one of many specialized leaf-mining moths in this diverse family.
Ectoedemia quadrinotata
Ectoedemia quadrinotata is a minute moth in the family Nepticulidae, first described by Annette Frances Braun in 1917. It occurs in the eastern United States and Canada, with records from Ohio, Kentucky, Vermont, and the provinces of Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec. The species is notable for its larval leaf-mining behavior on specific host plants.
Ectoedemia similella
Broken-banded Ectoedemia Moth
Ectoedemia similella is a minute moth in the family Nepticulidae, commonly known as the Broken-banded Ectoedemia Moth. It is native to eastern North America, with confirmed records from Ohio and Kentucky. The species has a wingspan of only 5–6 mm. Its larvae are leaf miners that feed exclusively on pin oak (Quercus palustris).
Ectoedemia trinotata
A minute Nepticulidae moth of eastern North America with a wingspan of 4.5–5 mm. Larvae are leaf miners on hickory species (Carya cordiformis and C. ovata). Two generations occur annually, with larval mines appearing in early July and early September.
Elachista
grass-miner moths, typical grass miner moths
Elachista is a large genus of very small gelechioid moths, the type genus of the family Elachistidae. These grass-miner moths are characterized by reduced, "feathery" hindwings and typically display one to three light transverse bands on the forewing uppersides. The genus has a near-cosmopolitan distribution, being absent only from very cold regions and some oceanic islands, with highest diversity in the Palearctic. Taxonomic complexity includes numerous undescribed species, cryptic species complexes, and disputed subgeneric classifications.
Elachista albidella
cottongrass sedge-miner
Elachista albidella is a small microlepidopteran moth in the family Elachistidae, described by William Nylander in 1848. It has a wingspan of 9–10 mm and is characterized by white forewings with distinctive fuscous markings and a large black plical stigma. The species is widely distributed across Europe and also occurs in North America. Larvae are specialized miners of sedges and grasses in wetland habitats.
Elachista cucullata
Elachista cucullata is a small moth in the family Elachistidae, described by Braun in 1926. It is distributed across eastern and central North America, with records from the United States and Canada. The species has a wingspan of 8–9 mm. Adults are active from May to July, and larvae are stem-leaf miners on Carex species.
Elachista freyerella
Elachista freyerella is a small moth in the family Elachistidae, described by Hübner in 1825. The species is widespread across Europe (excluding the Balkan Peninsula) and occurs in North America. It is a grass-mining species whose larvae develop within the leaves of various Poaceae hosts.
Elachista irrorata
A small North American moth in the family Elachistidae, described by Braun in 1920. Adults have a wingspan of 8.2–11 mm and are active from March through October. The larvae are leaf miners that feed on two specific grass species: Glyceria striata and Agrostis perennans, with larval activity occurring in April and May. The species is recorded from 11 states/provinces in the eastern United States and Ontario, Canada.
Elachista maculoscella
Elachista maculoscella is a small moth in the family Elachistidae. It has been documented in the northeastern United States and central Canada. The species is among the smallest North American microlepidoptera, with adults active in mid-summer.
Elachista madarella
Elachista madarella is a small North American moth in the family Elachistidae. Adults are active from May through October and have a wingspan of 8–9 mm. The larvae are leaf miners that feed on sedges, specifically Carex pubescens, Carex cristata, and Scirpus atrovirens. This species was originally described as Cosmiotes madarella by Clemens in 1860.
Elachista subalbidella
buff grass-miner
Elachista subalbidella is a small moth in the family Elachistidae with a wingspan of 10–13 mm. It is characterized by ochreous-yellow forewings and dark grey hindwings. The species is widely distributed across Europe and North America, where its larvae mine the leaves of various grasses and sedges. Adults are active in June. The common name "buff grass-miner" refers to both its coloration and larval feeding habit.
Enteucha basidactyla
Enteucha basidactyla is a minute moth in the family Nepticulidae, one of the smallest families of moths. It occurs in the Neotropical and Nearctic regions, with records from southwestern Florida, Dominica, Belize, and Ecuador. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in size, with females notably larger than males. It is a leaf-mining specialist on seagrape (Coccoloba uvifera) in Caribbean populations.
Enteucha gilvafascia
Enteucha gilvafascia is a minute leaf-mining moth in the family Nepticulidae. It is restricted to coastal southern Florida, where it completes two generations annually. The species is entirely dependent on seagrape (Coccoloba uvifera) for larval development, with larvae creating distinctive mines within the leaves.
Eriocrania
Birch leaf-mining moths
Eriocrania is a Palearctic genus of small, diurnal leaf-mining moths in the family Eriocraniidae. Adults are active in early spring (March–May), flying in sunshine around host trees. Larvae are specialized miners of birch leaves (Betula spp.), forming large blotch mines with distinctive frass patterns. The genus exhibits pronounced population fluctuations between years and has been extensively studied for its ecological interactions, including competition with other leaf-miners and responses to environmental stressors such as urbanization and pollution.
Eriocraniella mediabulla
A small primitive moth in the family Eriocraniidae, described in 1986 from the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plain of the southeastern United States. Adults are active in early spring and possess distinctive metallic luster on the wings. The larvae are leaf miners on oaks, creating serpentine mines that expand into blotches.
Eriocraniella platyptera
Eriocraniella platyptera is a small primitive moth in the family Eriocraniidae. Adults are active in May with a single annual generation. Larvae are leaf miners that feed on oak species, particularly Quercus ilicifolia. The species was described by Donald R. Davis in 1978 and is known from the northeastern and southern United States.
Eriocraniella xanthocara
Eriocraniella xanthocara is a small, iridescent moth in the family Eriocraniidae, described by Donald R. Davis in 1978. It is endemic to California, ranging from Shasta County south to Santa Clara County and Santa Cruz Island. Adults are active in spring from early March to late April, with one generation per year. The larvae are leaf miners on two oak species.
Etainia ochrefasciella
Hard Maple Budminer Moth
Etainia ochrefasciella is a small moth in the family Nepticulidae, commonly known as the Hard Maple Budminer Moth. The species was originally described as Ectoedemia ochrefasciella by Chambers in 1873 and later transferred to the genus Etainia by Puplesis et al. in 1996. As a member of the Nepticulidae, it is part of a family of minute moths whose larvae typically mine plant tissues.
Etainia sericopeza
Norway Maple Pigmy Moth, Norway maple seedminer
Etainia sericopeza is a minute moth in the family Nepticulidae, commonly known as the Norway Maple Pigmy Moth or Norway maple seedminer. The species is native to Europe, ranging from Fennoscandinavia to the Mediterranean, and has been introduced to eastern North America. Larvae develop as seed miners within the samaras of Norway maple (Acer platanoides). The moth was transferred from the genus Ectoedemia to Etainia based on morphological and molecular studies.
Ethmia trifurcella
Ethmia trifurcella is a small moth in the family Depressariidae, distributed across eastern and central North America. The species is characterized by distinctive forewing patterning with a sinuate longitudinal line dividing dark and pale areas. Larvae are specialized herbivores that construct tubular shelters on host plant leaves.
Eucosmophora
Eucosmophora is a genus of leaf-mining moths in the family Gracillariidae, established by Walsingham in 1897. The genus contains approximately 17 described species distributed primarily in the Neotropical region, with some species extending into the Nearctic. Members are characterized by their larval habit of creating blotch mines in host plant foliage. At least one species, E. schinusivora, has been extensively studied as a potential biological control agent for invasive Brazilian peppertree (Schinus terebinthifolius).
Eucosmophora pithecellobiae
Eucosmophora pithecellobiae is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae, described by Davis and Wagner in 2005. The species is known from Florida in the United States and Belize. As a member of Gracillariidae, it is likely a leaf-mining species, though specific biology remains incompletely documented. The species epithet references Pithecellobium, a genus of leguminous plants, suggesting a possible host association.
Eucosmophora sideroxylonella
Eucosmophora sideroxylonella is a small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae. It occurs in Cuba and Florida. The species exhibits slight sexual dimorphism in forewing length. Larvae are specialized leaf miners on several host plants in the Sapotaceae family.
Eugaurax
frit flies
Eugaurax is a genus of frit flies (Chloropidae) established by Malloch in 1913. The genus contains 11 New World species, with North American representatives including leaf miners of aquatic plants. Larvae of E. floridensis mine tissues of arrowheads (Sagittaria spp.), while E. hydrocotyles is a leaf and stem miner of floating marshpennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides). A species complex centered on E. quadrilineatus occurs throughout the Americas but its larval biology remains largely unknown.
Eugnamptus angustatus
leaf rolling weevil
Eugnamptus angustatus is a leaf rolling weevil in the family Attelabidae. It is native to North America, with confirmed records in Ontario, Canada. The species is associated with Sassafras albidum, with larvae observed as leaf miners of dead leaves. Two subspecies are recognized: E. a. angustatus and E. a. testaceus.
Euleia
Euleia is a genus of tephritid fruit flies established by Walker in 1835. Species in this genus are leaf-miners, with larvae feeding internally on Apiaceae plant leaves. The genus includes at least two known North American leaf-mining species and has been recorded from northern Europe and North America.
Fenusa
Fenusa is a genus of common sawflies in the family Tenthredinidae containing approximately 11 described species. Species in this genus are specialized leaf miners whose larvae feed internally within leaves of host trees. Several species are significant economic pests, including the birch leafminer (F. pusilla), elm leafminer (F. ulmi), and European alder leafminer (F. dohrnii). The genus has been extensively studied in biological control contexts due to the damage caused by larval feeding.
Fenusa julia
Fenusa julia is a species of sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae, described in 2017 by Smith and Eiseman. It belongs to a genus of leaf-mining sawflies whose larvae feed internally on leaf tissue. The species is known from very few observations.
Fenusella
Fenusella is a genus of sawflies in the family Tenthredinidae, subfamily Feninae. Species in this genus are known as leaf-miners, with larvae feeding internally on poplar leaves (Populus species). The genus occurs in the Palearctic region, with records from Europe, Scandinavia, and extending into Iran.
Fenusella nana
Early Birch Leaf Edgeminer
Fenusella nana is a Palearctic sawfly species in the family Tenthredinidae. It occurs throughout the British Isles and has been recorded across continental Europe including Belgium. The species is commonly known as the Early Birch Leaf Edgeminer, indicating its association with birch foliage. As a member of the subfamily Fenusinae, it exhibits the typical sawfly characteristic of a broad connection between the thorax and abdomen, lacking the narrow 'wasp waist' of Apocrita.
Fenusella populifoliella
Fenusella populifoliella is a species of sawfly in the family Tenthredinidae. It is associated with Populus (poplar) species as a leaf miner. The species is part of a genus whose larvae create distinctive feeding patterns on host leaves.
Fenusini
Fenusini is a tribe of sawflies within the family Tenthredinidae. Members are leaf-mining insects whose larvae feed internally within plant tissues. The tribe includes economically significant pests such as the birch leafminer (Fenusa pusilla).
Filatima loowita
Filatima loowita is a gelechiid moth described by Adamski in 2009. The species is endemic to Washington state in the United States, where it is associated with volcanic landscapes near Mount St. Helens. Its name derives from Loowit, the indigenous name for this volcano. The species is notable for its specialized larval feeding on Lupinus lepidus, with distinct early and late instar behaviors.
Filatima undescribed-species-on-ceanothus-herbaceus-one
An undescribed species in the gelechiid moth genus Filatima, currently recognized by its association with Ceanothus herbaceus. The species has not received formal taxonomic description but has been documented as a distinct entity based on host plant specificity and morphological differentiation from described congeners. It belongs to a genus of small moths whose larvae typically feed on various plant hosts, often developing within leaves or stems.
Fomoria septembrella
Hypericum Pigmy
Fomoria septembrella is a minute moth in the family Nepticulidae, commonly known as the Hypericum Pigmy. The species was originally described as Ectoedemia septembrella by Stainton in 1849 and later transferred to the genus Fomoria by Beirne in 1945. It is a leaf-mining species associated with Hypericum (St. John's wort) host plants. The moth is widely distributed across Europe and extends into the eastern Palearctic and Near East.
Frechinia helianthiales
Sunflower Bantam
Frechinia helianthiales is a small crambid moth known as the Sunflower Bantam. It was described in 1897 and occurs across central North America from southern Canada to Mexico. The species is closely associated with Helianthus (sunflower) species, on which its larvae are leaf miners.
Frechinia laetalis
Amber Bantam
Frechinia laetalis is a small crambid moth found in western North America. Adults are active from March to October. The larvae are leaf miners that feed on Ambrosia species.