POPLAR CALOPTILIA

POPLAR CALOPTILIA

Caloptilia stigmatella
LEAF BLOTCH MINER MOTHS (Gracillariidae)

This tiny moth has a total length of 5/16” (7 mm). The forewing is dark reddish-brown with a cream-colored triangle in the middle of the costa and three cream-colored spots below the triangle. The forelegs are thickly scaled at the base which gives the appearance of feathers. The very similar C. Packardella has a lighter area around the shoulders (inner margin in the basal area).

 

The frequency of occurrence at Fontenelle Forest is not known. One was photographed at the 2014 Fontenelle Forest Bioblitz coming to artificial lights in early June.

 

The larvae eat the leaves of Poplar and Willow.