Solitary Oak Leafminer - Hodges#0823
Cameraria hamadryadella
This record describes Cameraria hamadryadella (species). Recorded family: Gracillariidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Larva - early instars are flat and tapered to the rear. Later instars are cylindrical and orange-brown. See photo at Moth Photographers Group. ,
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gracillarioidea
- Family
- Gracillariidae (Leaf Blotch Miner Moths)
- Subfamily
- Lithocolletinae
- Genus
- Cameraria
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Throughout the eastern United States and southeastern Canada.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larva feed on various oaks, especially white oak ( Quercus alba ) and less often red oaks, in blotch mines in the upperside of the leaf.
Life History
Eggs laid singly on upper leaf surface. Overwinters as diapausing larva in the mine on fallen leaf (Conner & Beck, 1993).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cameraria hamadryadella. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Solitary Oak Leafminer - Hodges#0823 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Bob Patterson , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Solitary Oak Leafminer - Hodges#0823
What is Solitary Oak Leafminer - Hodges#0823?
Solitary Oak Leafminer - Hodges#0823 (Cameraria hamadryadella) is a species in the family Gracillariidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Solitary Oak Leafminer - Hodges#0823?
Larva to 5 mm.
How do you identify Solitary Oak Leafminer - Hodges#0823?
Larva - early instars are flat and tapered to the rear. Later instars are cylindrical and orange-brown. See photo at Moth Photographers Group. ,
Where is Solitary Oak Leafminer - Hodges#0823 found?
Range: Throughout the eastern United States and southeastern Canada.
What does Solitary Oak Leafminer - Hodges#0823 eat?
The diet of the Solitary Oak Leafminer - Hodges#0823 includes Larva feed on various oaks, especially white oak ( Quercus alba ) and less often red oaks, in blotch mines in the upperside of the leaf..
What is the life cycle of a Solitary Oak Leafminer - Hodges#0823?
Eggs laid singly on upper leaf surface. Overwinters as diapausing larva in the mine on fallen leaf (Conner & Beck, 1993).