Bug FAQTulip Tree Leaf Miner
Phyllocnistis liriodendronella · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Gracillariidae
Also called: Magnolia Serpentine Leafminer
Source: Wikipedia
The tulip tree leaf miner is a small moth found in several eastern U.S. states. Its larvae mine the leaves of tulip poplar, southern magnolia, and sweetbay magnolia, harming those trees.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars feed on the leaves of Liriodendron tulipifera, Magnolia grandiflora and Magnolia virginiana.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 32 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, North Carolina, New Jersey, Virginia, Ohio, District of Columbia.
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 trees are affected by the tulip tree leaf miner?
It mines the leaves of tulip poplar and two magnolia species, causing leaf damage.
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 cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllocnistis_liriodendronella
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.