Aspen leaf blotch miner
Phyllonorycter apparella
11 host plants
Last updated
Data Coverage 1 of 6 dimensions
In summer you will see yellowish or brownish blotch mines on aspen leaves, sometimes merging to cover large areas with discolored dead tissue. Tiny larvae feed between upper and lower leaf surfaces creating mines. Look for multiple mines on individual leaves throughout canopy on quaking aspen and cottonwoods.
Light infestations are purely cosmetic; aspens tolerate defoliation well. For aesthetic concerns, rake and destroy fallen leaves in autumn to reduce overwintering larvae. Parasitoid wasps naturally control populations; preserve beneficials by avoiding insecticides. Severe defoliation rarely occurs; treat only if damage exceeds 25 percent canopy area.
Quick Reference
Order
Lepidoptera
Type
leafminer
Host Plants
11
Host Plants (11)
Populus alba White Poplar European White Poplar, Silver Poplar Populus angustifolia Narrowleaf Cottonwood, Mountain Cottonwood Populus balsamifera Balsam Poplar Populus canescens Gray Poplar Populus deltoides Eastern Cottonwood Populus fremontii Fremont Cottonwood, Western Cottonwood Populus grandidentata Bigtooth Aspen Populus nigra Black Poplar Populus tremula European Aspen European Trembling Aspen European Quaking Aspen Populus tremuloides Quaking Aspen Populus trichocarpa Black Cottonwood