Field Guide Descriptions: | Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD | Technical Description, Adults: Braun (1918) | Technical Description, Immature Stages: Braun (1918), Eiseman (2019) | |
Adult Markings: This species lacks the bold patterning that is seen in many Caloptilia and has an overall drab, ochreous coloration with darker mottling. Braun (1918) described the forewings as having an ocherous ground color that is overlain with shining purplish fuscous. The dark coloration on the dorsal half of the wing fades into a lighter wash of varying width that extends along much of the length of the costa. The lighter wash is often narrowest near the wing tip, broadens to reach its maximum width near the middle of the wing, then fades out towards the wing base. There is normally a series of minute fuscous dots on the costal edge. The face is whitish and the labial palps are whitish, but often overlain with extensive dark coloration on the terminal half that produces a somewhat two-toned appearance. The cilia are fuscous and have 3-4 indistinct darker lines running through them. The tibia and femur of the front and middle leg are dark brown to blackish, while the tarsi are whitish with dark spots near the tarsal joints. The rear legs are whitish, but dusted with fuscous coloration.
This species is superficially similar to some specimens of C. rhoifoliella, but is smaller (wing span 8.5-10 mm versus 12-13 mm) and lacks the series of dark brown dots or small rectangular blotches along the costa and fold. The light coloration along the costa also extends more basally in C. hypericella. |
Wingspan: 8.5-10 mm (Braun, 1918) |
Forewing Length: 5 mm (BugGuide) |
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens. |
Immatures and Development: The larva makes a small linear mine that expands into an elongated blotch on the underside of the leaf. The blotch is small (typically < 2 mm wide and 7-8 mm long) and becomes tentiform when mature. An indistinct central frass line is usually evident in the linear portion. The larva eventually abandons the blotch and constructs a conical shelter by rolling the tip of the leaf downward into a cone (Braun 1918; Eiseman 2019). This usually involving using the whole leaf. The cocoon is constructed on the underside of the curled leaf. |
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants. |