Bug FAQOpuntia Leaf Miner
Marmara opuntiella · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Gracillariidae
The Opuntia leaf miner is found in Texas, the United States, and Mexico, with similar records from several Central and South American countries. Its larvae feed on Opuntia and Nopalea species, mining the leaves of these cacti.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
The larvae mine the leaves of their host plants, creating visible tunnels.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It occurs in Texas and Mexico.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The larvae feed on species of the cactus genera Opuntia and Nopalea.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 6 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, California, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, New Mexico.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What plants are affected by the Opuntia leaf miner?
Its larvae feed on Opuntia and Nopalea cacti, mining the leaves.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is the Opuntia leaf miner found?
It is known from Texas and Mexico, with similar records in several Central and South American countries.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Gracillariidae)
Horse-chestnut LeafminerCameraria ohridellaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Aspen Serpentine Leafminer MothPhyllocnistis populiellaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Phyllocnistis vitegenella complexPhyllocnistis vitegenellaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Locust Digitate Leafminer MothParectopa robiniellaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Poison Ivy Leaf-miner MothCameraria guttifinitella
Phyllocnistis insignisDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marmara_opuntiella
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-28 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-28.