Packard's Caloptilia Moth
Common NamePackard's Caloptilia Moth
Scientific NameCaloptilia packardella
FamilyGracillariidae
SubfamilyGracillariinae
Wingspan (mm)11
Primary Colorsyellowish-white, reddish-brown
HabitatDeciduous forests, woodlands, and areas with host maple trees
Geographic RangeEastern North America, including southeastern Canada and eastern United States
Host PlantsAcer saccharum (Sugar Maple), Acer rubrum (Red Maple), Acer saccharinum (Silver Maple), Betula spp. (Birch)
Flight PeriodMay to June, and July to September (bivoltine)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are leaf miners, creating blotch mines on the leaves of host trees, primarily maples. They pupate within the mine or in a cocoon on the leaf surface, typically having two generations per year.
Identification TipsKey features include its small size, the unique resting posture, and the specific bicolored pattern of yellowish-white and reddish-brown on the forewings, especially the large dorsal reddish-brown patch.
Description
A small moth characterized by its distinctive resting posture with the head raised and body angled. Its forewings are yellowish-white with a prominent, irregular reddish-brown patch covering much of the dorsal half.
