Bug FAQPhyllonorycter fitchella
Phyllonorycter fitchella · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Gracillariidae
Source: Wikipedia
The moth has a wingspan of about 7.5 to 8 mm. It occurs in parts of Canada and many U.S. states, especially in the east and west. Its larvae feed inside the leaves of various oak species, creating mines that can harm the trees.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Phyllonorycter fitchella belongs to the Gracillariidae family of moths.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults measure roughly 7.5 to 8 mm across the wings.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae mine the leaves of oak trees, feeding on species like white oak, swamp white oak, chestnut oak and others.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
In California, adult moths can be seen from March through October.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are active from early spring to mid-fall in California.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its known range includes Québec in Canada and many states across the United States.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 22 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Massachusetts, Virginia, California, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Maryland, Michigan.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What do the larvae eat?
The caterpillars feed inside oak leaves, mining them as they grow.
Source: Wikipedia
When can I see the adults?
In California, adults are on the wing from March until October.
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/Phyllonorycter_fitchella
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.