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Leaf Blotch Miner Moth

Caloptilia bimaculatella

Photo by LaurenZarate
Published on Project Noah
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16.7153, -92.6127

Field Notes

Description:

This tiny moth is only 4 mm long. I thought it was a leaf hopper at first. The antennae are as long as the body and held flat against the back of the wings. It is dark brown with white spots, a white face and brown and white legs. Family Gracillariidae, Micro-Lepidoptera.

Habitat:

Came to an ultraviolet light in the garden, San Cristobal de Las Casas, 2,200 meters.

Notes:

There are 326 species listed for this genus of tiny leaf miner moths! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caloptilia). The Red Maple is one of the main host plant trees for C. bimaculatella (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acer_rubrum).

Reference Links:

Caloptilia bimaculatella

Species ID Suggestions

Leaf Blotch Miner Moth

Caloptilia bimaculatella

Reference Link
stho002
2

Comments (7)
LaurenZarate
Thanks dotun. You're so right! I had to shoot about 40 pictures to get a couple of OK ones. :)
dotun55
Impressive! Tiny moths like this with the Plume moths are often tough to get on (my) camera.
LaurenZarate
Thank you stho002. It certainly seems really like this one. The wing spots are not exact, but could be variation only. I was seeing that it feeds on Maple leaves and we do have some ornamental maples in gardens here.
LaurenZarate
Thank you Rob. Thank you Shekainah, it really is similar to the Euclasta species, which seem to be Southeast Asia, Indo-Pacific and Australia. I saw your spotting (https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/120176052/fullscreen), which is very nice! These guys are so tiny. Also the Euclasta spotting of Annvan is very nice (https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/37365020/fullscreen).
stho002
Or a closely related species
RobThacker
Fascinating little moth, thank you Lauren

Spotted for Missions

Butterflies and Moths of México
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Mexico Horn of Plenty
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Moths of the World
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National Geographic's Great Nature Project
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Insects from Mexico!

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Photographed
PublishedApril 20, 2014

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