Bug FAQParectopa plantaginisella
Parectopa plantaginisella · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Gracillariidae
Source: Wikipedia
Parectopa plantaginisella is found in parts of Canada and the United States, including Québec, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Missouri and Vermont. The larvae feed on Erigeron species and mine the leaves of their host plants, causing damage.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars eat Erigeron plants. They create mines inside the leaves of their host, which harms the foliage.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It occurs in Québec, Canada and in several U.S. states such as Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Missouri and Vermont.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 28 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Vermont, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Louisiana, Maryland, Virginia.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What plants are affected by Parectopa plantaginisella?
Its larvae feed on Erigeron species and mine the leaves, damaging those plants.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is Parectopa plantaginisella found?
It has been recorded in Québec, Canada and in the U.S. states of Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Missouri and Vermont.
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/Parectopa_plantaginisella
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-27 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-27.