Poplar Leaf-miner Moth
Common NamePoplar Leaf-miner Moth
Scientific NamePhyllonorycter populifoliella
FamilyGracillariidae
SubfamilyGracillariinae
Wingspan (mm)7
Primary Colorswhite, brown, tan
HabitatWoodlands, forests, riparian areas where poplar and aspen trees grow
Geographic RangeEurope, parts of Asia (e.g., Siberia, Japan)
Host PlantsPopulus tremula, Populus nigra, Populus alba
Flight PeriodMay to August (often two generations)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesThe larvae are leaf-miners, creating characteristic mines on the underside of poplar and aspen leaves. They pupate within the mine, often forming a cocoon inside the leaf.
Identification TipsKey features include its minute size, the specific white and brown banded pattern on the forewings, and its association with *Populus* host plants, where its larval mines can also be found.
Description
A very small, slender moth with a tufted head and long antennae. Its forewings display a distinctive pattern of alternating white and dark brown/tan bands, often with a metallic sheen, and a fringe of scales at the wing tips.
