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Antispila treitschkiella

Leaf miner Antispila treitschkiella

Description

Antispila treitschkiella is a small moth species from the family Heliozelidae. Known also as Antispila petryi. It is widely distributed across Europe, from Great Britain to Ukraine and from Sweden to Greece, including Portugal. The species has one generations per year, with adults flying from late April to early June. The larvae develop on Cornus mas and Cornus sanguinea, where they mine the leaves, causing distinctive damage. The species overwinters in the larval stage inside a case formed from the mined leaf tissue. Although A. treitschkiella does not cause significant harm to host trees, heavy infestations can reduce the ornamental value of affected shrubs by causing premature leaf discoloration and defoliation.

Symptom

Larvae create blotch mines on dogwood leaves, initially forming a distinct dark mine that expands over time. Before pupation, the larva cuts out an oval section of the leaf to form a portable case, in which it overwinters among leaf litter. Unlike A. metallella, the mine usually does not start with a narrow initial corridor (linear gallery).

Antispila treitschkiella = petryi – chiefly on Cornus sanguinea. The mine typically does not begin with a corridor but starts directly as a blotch; it likewise ends with a cut-out “shield.”

Antispila metallella – larvae mine dogwoods (Cornus sanguinea, C. mas). The mine usually starts as a narrow initial corridor from the leaf margin and then expands into a flat blotch; the larva cuts an oval “shield” from the blotch for pupation.

Tree Species: Dogwoods

Part of a plant- attacked: Leaf / Needle

Pest significance: Less harmful

Pest Category: Insects

Invasive Species: No

Present in EU: Yes