Lepidoptera281 species

Family Leaf Blotch Miner Moths (Gracillariidae)

Gracillariidae is a family in the order Lepidoptera. Browse 281 named species recorded in this family, or open an individual profile for its available identification and natural-history information.

Species in Gracillariidae (281)

Phyllonorycter quercifoliella

Wingspan 7 to 9 mm. At first glance the adult can appear devoid of markings, but on closer scrutiny, the pale greyish strigulae can be seen, as can the diagnostic basal streak, which usually extends more than half the forewing length. The leaf mines

Phyllonorycter rajella

Wingspan 7 to 9 mm. A variable species, some specimens appearing very dark and some much paler. There is a broad whitish basal streak which is usually quite obvious. The larva mines the leaves of several species of Alder, creating an oval tentiform m

Phyllonorycter schreberella

Wingspan 6 to 8 mm. A very small moth with a metallic lustre and dark, leaden colours around the head and fringes, with silvery strigulae. The larva mines the leaves of Elm. The adults fly in two generations during May and August. Along with P. trist

Phyllonorycter sorbi

Wingspan 7 to 9 mm. The forewing colour is golden brown but is often suffused with blackish on the outer half. The white markings are well defined and partially bordered blackish. The larva commonly mines the leaves of Rowan or Bird Cherry, and occas

Phyllonorycter spinicolella

Wingspan 6 to 8 mm. The adult moths are very similar in appearance to P. cerasicolella and the two species are best separated by genitalia dissection or by recording as a leafmine with a note of the host foodplant. The larva mines the leaves of Prunu

Phyllonorycter stettinensis

Wingspan 6.5-7.5 mm. The adult is quite a dark species compared to other Phyllonorycter , with contrasting whitish bands. The larva mines the leaves of Alder, causing a small oval mine on the upper leaf surface (unike other Phyllonorycter on Alder, w

Phyllonorycter strigulatella

Wingspan 7 to 9 mm. The markings of this species are white, chestnut brown and black. The larva only mines the leaves of Grey Alder ( Alnus incana ), causing a narrow strongly contracted tube-like mine between two veins. Adult is similar to several o

Phyllonorycter trifasciella

Wingspan 7-8 mm. This species has a banded patterning of chestnut, off white and dark browns. The larva mines the leaves of Honeysuckle, and occasionally Snowberry or Himalayan Honeysuckle, in a small tentiform mine that contracts diagonally causing

Phyllonorycter tristrigella

Wingspan 7-9 mm. One of the more distinctive of the Phyllonorycters, this species has two complete bands across the forewing and then a chevron-like mark nearer the wingtip. It also lacks the dark fringe line often present in other species. The larva

Phyllonorycter ulicicolella

In VC55, the larvae seem to prefer Western Gorse ( Ulex gallii ) , which is smaller and softer than the common Gorse ( Ulex europaeus). The mines are hard to find - look for a yellowing, slighting distorted and swollen section of stem and side-shoot

Phyllonorycter ulmifoliella

Wingspan 7 to 9 mm. Similar to other members of the family. The wings are brown with white markings edged in black. The larva mines the leaves of Birch, causing a small (<15mm) tentiform mine. The larva is pale yellow or whitish with a pale brown hea

Phyllonorycter viminiella

Wingspan 7 to 9 mm. Phyllonorycter viminiella has much less distinct markings than most other Phyllonorycter species. The larva mines the leaves of various Willow species, causing the leaf edge to fold over a tentiform mine with many creases on the u

Porphyrosela minuta - Hodges#0843.1

Porphyrosela minuta

The only known native Porphyrosela in the US, P. desmodiella , is very similar as an adult. However, it makes underside tentiform mines, not flat upperside mines like those of P. minuta , and Trifolium is not one of its known hosts.