About Gracillaria syringella (Fabricius, 1794)
Gracillaria syringella (Fabricius, 1794), commonly called the lilac leafminer or privet leafminer, is a moth species belonging to the family Gracillariidae. It is native to Europe, and has been introduced to North America. This moth has a wingspan that ranges from 10 to 13 millimeters. Its forewings are a light yellow-brownish shade, with whitish and dark fuscous strigulae toward the base. An oblique interrupted fascia at approximately 1/4 of the forewing length, a somewhat angled median fascia (which is sometimes followed by a small costal spot), a tornal spot, a spot on the costa beyond the median fascia, and costal and terminal dots near the apex are all white with black margins. There is a blackish discal suffusion on the forewing beyond the middle. The hindwings are a rather dark grey. The larva is whitish, sometimes with a greenish tinge; it has a darker green dorsal line, and a brownish-tinged head. Depending on location, adult moths fly in May, with a second flight period in July. Caterpillars of this species feed on the leaves of ash (Fraxinus), privet (Ligustrum), and lilac (Syringa).
