Yellow-headed Aspen Leaftier
Common NameYellow-headed Aspen Leaftier
Scientific NameAnacampsis innocuella
FamilyGelechiidae
SubfamilyGelechiinae
Wingspan (mm)15
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, tan, black, gray
HabitatDeciduous forests, woodlands, areas with aspen trees
Geographic RangeNorth America (primarily northern US and Canada)
Host PlantsPopulus tremuloides, Populus spp.
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are leaftiers, tying together aspen or poplar leaves with silk to feed within the shelter. Pupation occurs within the tied leaves or in the soil, with one generation per year.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive yellowish-brown head and the mottled brown and tan forewings with a somewhat squared-off appearance at the apex when at rest. Its association with aspen trees is a key indicator.
Description
A small moth with cryptically patterned forewings, featuring mottled patches of light tan, dark brown, and grayish speckles. The head is distinctly yellowish-brown, and the wings are held in a tent-like fashion at rest.
