Caloptilia fidella

Hop stilt

Description

Caloptilia fidella is a moth from the Gracillariidae family, predominantly found in whole Europe. It primarily infests Celtis australis (European nettle tree) and Humulus lupulus (common hop), where the larvae mine the leaves. The larvae create small, triangular blotch mines at the vein axils of the host plant leaves, with some frass ejected while other remains scatter within the mine. Older larvae shift to feeding openly on the leaf margins, rolling the edges downward. C. fidella is only locally more common. Recent records show it spreading to the northwest in Europe.

Symptom

Infestation symptoms include small, triangular blotch mines and downward-rolled leaf edges with larvae. The damage caused by Caloptilia fidella is similar to that of Phyllonorycter millierella, especially in the formation of leaf mines. However, it differs in that C. fidella larvae create characteristic triangular blotch mines near the leaf veins and, in later stages, move to the leaf edges, rolling them downward. In contrast, P. millierella larvae remain entirely within the leaf tissue throughout development, without rolling the leaf edges. These distinctions help identify the species based on the type and location of damage on the leaves.

Tree Species: Hop

Part of a plant- attacked: Leaf / Needle

Pest significance: Less harmful

Pest Category: Insects

Invasive Species: No

Present in EU: Yes