About Chrysaster ostensackenella (Fitch, 1859)
Chrysaster ostensackenella is a moth belonging to the family Gracillariidae. This species is found in Ontario, Québec, and Nova Scotia in Canada, and across multiple U.S. states including Illinois, Kentucky, New York, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Vermont, Arizona, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Connecticut. It has also been officially recorded outside of North America: first from China in 2015, then from Korea in 2017, and from Central Italy in 2022. The wingspan of adult individuals is approximately 5 mm. The larvae of Chrysaster ostensackenella feed on plants of the Robinia genus, specifically including Robinia hispida, Robinia neomexicana, Robinia pseudacacia, and Robinia viscosa. During development, the larvae create mines within the leaves of their host plants.
