Caloptilia blandella

Description

Caloptilia blandella is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is known from Canada (Québec) the United States (including Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maine, Maryland, Texas and Kentucky). The wingspan is about 9 millimetres (0.35 in). The larvae feed on Carya ovata and Juglans nigra. They mine the leaves of their host plant. The mine has the form of a little crooked, very narrow mine resembling a small snail's track. It is found on the upperside of the leaf. Later instars create a leaf cone. It involves only one fold of the host leaflet, and therefore extensive skeletonization can be seen on the exterior of the fold. Often, the fold is located on the margin of the leaflet rather than at the apex. Caloptilia is a genus of moths in the family Gracillariidae.