About Caloptilia rhoifoliella (Chambers, 1876)
Caloptilia rhoifoliella, commonly called the sumac leafblotch miner, is a moth species that belongs to the family Gracillariidae. This species is confirmed to be present in Bermuda, Canada, and the United States. Within Canada, it has been recorded in Manitoba, Québec, and Ontario. In the United States, it has been found in Mississippi, New York, Kentucky, California, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, Texas, Vermont, North Carolina, Illinois, Kansas, and Louisiana. The wingspan of adult Caloptilia rhoifoliella measures approximately 13 mm. Adults of this species are active in September, November, March, and April within Florida, and are active in May within Texas. The larvae of Caloptilia rhoifoliella feed on a variety of plant species: multiple Rhus species, including Rhus copallina, Rhus lanceolata, Rhus toxicodendron, and Rhus typhina, as well as Schinus terebinthifolia, Toxicodendron pubescens, and Toxicodendron radicans. The larvae feed by mining the leaves of their host plants.
