Bug FAQPhyllocnistis vitegenella complex
Phyllocnistis vitegenella · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Gracillariidae
Source: Wikipedia
Its larvae feed on native Vitis species and on cultivated Vitis vinifera, mining the leaves and harming the vines.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
The larvae mine the leaves of their host plants.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It was first found in northern Italy in 1994, then in Slovenia in 2004 and Switzerland in 2009.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The larvae eat leaves of native American Vitis species and cultivated grape vines.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It originates from North America.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 40 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Virginia, New York.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What plants does the grape leaf miner damage?
Its larvae mine the leaves of native Vitis species and cultivated Vitis vinifera grapes.
Source: Wikipedia
Where has this bug been found outside North America?
Records show it in northern Italy (1994), Slovenia (2004) and Switzerland (2009).
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Gracillariidae)
Horse-chestnut LeafminerCameraria ohridellaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Aspen Serpentine Leafminer MothPhyllocnistis populiellaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Locust Digitate Leafminer MothParectopa robiniellaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Poison Ivy Leaf-miner MothCameraria guttifinitella
Phyllocnistis insignisPhyllocnistis insignisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Madrone Skin MinerMarmara arbutiellaDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllocnistis_vitegenella
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-24.