Citrus Leafminer

Feeding and life cycle

The citrus leafminer is a small moth whose larvae feed inside young leaves of citrus and related compatible hosts. The narrow larval feeding track is a mine, not an exposed chewing injury. Adults disperse and lay eggs; larval feeding and pupation occupy different stages of the life cycle. Plants on which larvae are observed do not all support completed development. Local infestation intensity and the contribution of parasitoids need Kauaʻi-specific observations.

Kauaʻi occurrence and evidence

Atlas occurrence category: Present. Matsunaga, Howarth & Kumashiro (2019) Table 1 includes Kauaʻi island code 'Ka'; first-detection year shown as 2000; reported island distribution: Ha, Ka, Ma, Mo, Oa.

Account coverage

Published species details have been added. A complete Kauaʻi-specific account of identification, habitat, feeding, reproduction, and population trend is not yet established by the sources linked here.

Names and classification

Scientific name

Phyllocnistis citrella

Common names

Citrus Leafminer

Family

Gracillariidae

Order

Lepidoptera

Record type

species

Kauaʻi occurrence and status

Kauaʻi occurrence

Present

Origin

Introduced

Conservation status

Not assessed

Process and seasonal context

Seasonal description

Citrus Leafminer (Phyllocnistis citrella) belongs to Gracillariidae in the order Lepidoptera. Its recorded origin status is introduced.

Sources and further reading

• Peer-reviewed alien-fauna update
• Feeding and life cycle — species source