Caloptilia azaleella (Brants, 1913)
(one synonym : Gracilaria anthracosperma)
Azalea Leafminer
 GRACILLARIINAE ,   GRACILLARIIDAE

Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley


(Drawing courtesy of James R. Baker)

The caterpillars of this species are an international pest. They are yellow, and mine the leaves of :

  • Azalea ( Rhododendron species, ERICACEAE ).

    They grow to a length of about 2 cms. They have only eight prolegs, and are unusual in having a U-shaped arrangement (penellipse) of crochets on the prolegs. The caterpillars pupate in the leaf they have been mining, which usually curls over.


    (Photo: courtesy of Nick Monaghan, Bayswater, Victoria)

    The adult moths are yellow with purple markings, and have a wingspan of about 2 cms.


    (Photo: courtesy of Landcare Research Ltd., New Zealand)

    The species occurs in many parts of the world, including :

  • Africa,
  • Great Britain, and
  • U.S.A.,
    and was introduced by unfortunate accident into Australia, including:
  • New South Wales,
  • Tasmania, and
  • Victoria.

    Further reading :

    Ian F.B. Common,
    Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, fig. 20.10, pp. 198-199.

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    (updated 7 April 2011)