Sugar Maple Leafminer Moth
Common NameSugar Maple Leafminer Moth
Scientific NameGlaucolepis saccharella
FamilyNepticulidae
SubfamilyNepticulinae
Wingspan (mm)5
Wing Patternsolid
Primary Colorsdark brown, bronze, grey
HabitatDeciduous forests, woodlands, urban areas with maple trees
Geographic RangeEastern North America
Host PlantsAcer saccharum, Acer rubrum, Acer saccharinum
Flight PeriodMay to June, July to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesThe larvae are endophagous leaf miners, creating a characteristic serpentine mine on the upper surface of maple leaves. Pupation occurs in a silken cocoon, usually on the ground.
Identification TipsAdults are very small and difficult to identify without magnification. Identification is most commonly made by the distinctive, winding leaf mines found on maple leaves, which start narrow and gradually widen.
Description
A minute, dark-colored moth, typically dark brown or grey with a metallic bronze or purplish sheen on its wings, often with a small pale spot or band.
