Caloptilia azaleella

Azalea moth ( Caloptilia azaleella )

The azalea moth ( Caloptilia azaleella ) is a globally widespread species of the family of leaf miners ( Gracillariidae ). She is originally from Japan and has spread as neozoon over the entire world. Especially in greenhouses it can be frequent and as a pest.

The moths lay their eggs singly or in small groups on the underside of azalea leaves, usually directly to the leaf veins. The caterpillars live as leaf miners and first eat up a gear in the leaves, later a vesicular appearing place. The older caterpillars begin to roll off the page down and chew on in this role, the leaf area. In this role, it also comes to pupate within a cocoon cocoons.

The moths reach a wingspan of 10 to 11 millimeters. They have dark brown forewings, on which the wing leading edge is a yellow ribbon. The adults fly in several generations per year and are attracted by artificial light sources.