Tupelo Leaf Miner
Common NameTupelo Leaf Miner
Scientific NameEctoedemia nyssaefoliella
FamilyNepticulidae
SubfamilyNepticulinae
Wingspan (mm)4
Primary Colorsdark brown, gray, metallic sheen
HabitatDeciduous forests, swamps, and wetlands where Nyssa trees grow
Geographic RangeEastern North America (eastern United States)
Host PlantsNyssa aquatica, Nyssa sylvatica
Flight PeriodMay to August
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are leaf miners, creating a distinctive serpentine gallery that widens into an irregular blotch on Nyssa leaves, with visible frass within the mine. Pupation typically occurs outside the leaf in a cocoon.
Identification TipsBest identified by its characteristic leaf mine on Nyssa species, which begins as a narrow, winding gallery and expands into an irregular blotch, often containing black frass. Adult moths are tiny and require microscopic examination for species-level identification.
Description
A minute, dark brownish-gray moth with a wingspan of 3.5-4.5 mm, often exhibiting a subtle metallic sheen on its forewings.
