Cottonwood Leafminer
Common NameCottonwood Leafminer
Scientific NameParaleucoptera heinrichi
FamilyLyonetiidae
SubfamilyLyonetiinae
Wingspan (mm)6
Primary Colorssilver, white, black, gold
HabitatRiparian areas, forests, and landscapes with cottonwood trees
Geographic RangeNorth America (primarily western US and Canada)
Host PlantsPopulus species (cottonwood, aspen, poplar)
Flight PeriodMay to September (multiple generations)
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae create serpentine mines in the leaves of cottonwood trees, eventually forming a blotch mine before pupating in a white cocoon, often on the leaf surface.
Identification TipsIts tiny size, brilliant silvery-white coloration, and distinctive black and golden markings at the posterior end, combined with its association with cottonwood trees, are key identifiers.
Description
A minute, slender moth with a shimmering silvery-white body and wings, featuring prominent black and golden-brown markings near the tail end.
