sumac leaf blotch miner moth

not listed

NNR - Unranked

SNR - Unranked

not listed

Sumac leaf blotch miner moth is a micromoth (Microlepidoptera), which is an artificial grouping of moths with a wingspan less than ¾″ (20 mm). It occurs in the United States from Maine to Florida, west to Minnesota and eastern Texas, and in southern Canada from Prince Edward Island west to Manitoba. It is uncommon in eastern Minnesota, where it reaches the western extent of its range.

The larvae feed on the leaves of sumacs and poison ivies. Early stage (instar) larvae are leaf miners. Later instars are leaf rollers. In other parts of their range, adults are active from early spring through fall, but in Minnesota the few sightings of adults have all occurred in July or September.

Adults are long, slender, and very small, ¼″ to ⅜″ (7 to 9 mm) in length. Males have a 7⁄16″ to ½″ (11 to 13 mm) wingspan. Females are a little smaller, with a ⅜″ to ½″ (10 to 12 mm) wingspan.

The upper side of the head is dark brown. The face is white. The sensory mouthparts (labial palps) have three segments, all covered with scales. They are long and turned upward, reaching above the top of the head. The first segment is short. The second segment is long and white, often with some brown scales mixed in. The third segment is long and bright white with a dark brown tip. The antennae are long and blackish brown, and there is a white ring on each segment. They do not have an eye cap at the base.

The thorax is dark brown above and on the sides, white below. The abdomen is white. The white areas of the face, thorax, and abdomen have variable amounts of dark brown or black scales mixed in.

The forewings are narrow, dark brown or reddish brown, and heavily speckled with darker brown scales. The area near the leading edge (costal margin) is often paler. On some individuals, the area near the costal margin is dark near the base and at the tip. The space between is white with a speckling of dark scales and a row of dark brown dots or blotches. There is a fringe of long, hair-like scales on both the inner and outer margins. The fringe on the inner margin is pale tan, the fringe on the outer margin is dark brown.

The hindwings are pale tan with long, pale tan fringes.

The legs are long. On the front and middle legs, the third segment (femur) and fourth segment (tibia) are dark brown above. The last part of the legs (tarsus) is white with faint brown marks near each joint. The hind legs are light tan.

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A detailed description of Caloptilia rhoifoliella could not be found. However, it cannot be distinguished from Caloptilia diversilobiella except by a microscopic examination of the male genitalia. The description above is adapted from the original description of Caloptilia diversilobiella.

Total length: ¼″ to ⅜″ (7 to 9 mm)

Wingspan: ⅜″ to ½″ (10 to 13 mm)

Two or more generations per year: early spring through fall

Adults are active at night and will come to lights. They rest propped up on their forelegs.

Early stage (instar) larvae are flattened. They feed on sumacs (Rhus spp.) and poison ivies (Toxicodendron spp.). First through fifth instars feed on sap beneath the outer layer of leaf tissue, leaving a narrow linear track (mine). The mine may be on the upper side or underside of the leaf, and it is visible only on that side. It later broadens into a raised (tentiform) blotch that may obscure the initial mine.

Later instars are cylindrical and look like typical caterpillars. They feed on leaf tissue. They roll the tip of the leaf downward and tie it with silk, creating an asymmetrical cone in which they feed. Unlike cones of larger leaf rollers, Caloptilia cones do not have visible silken straps on the outside. As the caterpillar feeds, it skeletonizes the cone, consuming the tissue and leaving the veins. It pupates in a silken cocoon within the cone. Pupae overwinter on the ground in fallen leaves.

Sumacs (Rhus spp.) and poison ivies (Toxicodendron spp.)

Sources

21, 29, 30, 75, 82, 83.

Uncommon in Minnesota

This species was formerly classified as Gracilaria rhoifoliella. A revision of the family Gracillariidae (Vari, 1961) moved it to the genus Caloptilia.

Location: Albany, NY