Citrus Leafminer
Common NameCitrus Leafminer
Scientific NamePhyllocnistis citrella
FamilyGracillariidae
SubfamilyPhyllocnistinae
Wingspan (mm)4
Primary Colorssilvery-white, pale yellow, brown
HabitatCitrus groves, orchards, nurseries, and gardens where host plants are present.
Geographic RangeNative to Asia, now cosmopolitan in tropical and subtropical citrus-growing regions worldwide, including North America, South America, Africa, Europe (Mediterranean), and Australia.
Host PlantsCitrus species, orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit, mandarin, kumquat, calamondin, jasmine
Flight PeriodYear-round in tropical and subtropical climates; multiple generations during warmer months in temperate regions.
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid on young citrus leaves; larvae are obligate leafminers, creating characteristic serpentine tunnels that cause leaf distortion. Pupation occurs within the mine, often at the leaf margin.
Identification TipsLook for its extremely small size (4-5mm wingspan), the silvery-white body, the dark apical spot on the forewings, and the tell-tale serpentine mines on young citrus leaves.
Description
A minute, slender moth with a silvery-white to pale yellowish body and narrow, iridescent forewings featuring a distinctive dark spot near the apex and a long fringe on the hindwings.
