An adult <em>Porphyrosela minuta</em> in Harford Co., Maryland (11/1/2017). (Photo ID: 94919 - Psn: 12)

An adult Porphyrosela minuta in Harford Co., Maryland (11/1/2017).

View Record Details Photo by Josh Emm MBP List

A <em>Porphyrosela minuta</em> reared from leaf mines in White Clover in Harford Co., Maryland (11/1/2017). (Photo ID: 94918 - Psn: 22)

A Porphyrosela minuta reared from leaf mines in White Clover in Harford Co., Maryland (11/1/2017).

View Record Details Photo by Josh Emm MBP List

A freshly eclosed <em>Porphyrosela minuta</em> in Baltimore Co., Maryland (9/30/2020). (Photo ID: 234173 - Psn: 31)

A freshly eclosed Porphyrosela minuta in Baltimore Co., Maryland (9/30/2020).

View Record Details Photo by Dave Webb MBP List

<em>Porphyrosela minuta</em> in Prince George's Co., Maryland (10/17/2020). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/'>CC BY</a>). (Photo ID: 241195 - Psn: 32)

Porphyrosela minuta in Prince George's Co., Maryland (10/17/2020). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY).

View Record Details Photo by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist MBP List

Porphyrosela minuta in Prince George's Co., Maryland (10/17/2020). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY).

View Record Details Photo by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist MBP List

<em>Porphyrosela minuta</em> leaf mines in White Clover in Harford Co., Maryland (9/29/2017). (Photo ID: 91947 - Psn: 35)

Porphyrosela minuta leaf mines in White Clover in Harford Co., Maryland (9/29/2017).

View Record Details Photo by Josh Emm MBP List

<em>Porphyrosela minuta</em> in Harford Co., Maryland (9/20/2018). (Photo ID: 123533 - Psn: 35)

Porphyrosela minuta in Harford Co., Maryland (9/20/2018).

View Record Details Photo by Dave Webb MBP List

<em>Porphyrosela minuta</em> in Harford Co., Maryland (10/2/2017). (Photo ID: 92544 - Psn: 45)

Porphyrosela minuta in Harford Co., Maryland (10/2/2017).

View Record Details Photo by Dave Webb MBP List

A <em>Porphyrosela minuta</em> in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (9/28/2018). Determined by Charley Eiseman/BugGuide. (Photo ID: 124202 - Psn: 45)

A Porphyrosela minuta in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (9/28/2018). Determined by Charley Eiseman/BugGuide.

View Record Details Photo by Tyler Bell MBP List

A <em>Porphyrosela minuta</em> leaf mine in Calvert Co., Maryland (8/23/2019). Verified by Charley Eiseman/BugGuide. (Photo ID: 149207 - Psn: 45)

A Porphyrosela minuta leaf mine in Calvert Co., Maryland (8/23/2019). Verified by Charley Eiseman/BugGuide.

View Record Details Photo by Tyler Bell MBP List

<em>Porphyrosela minuta</em> in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (9/17/2019). (Photo ID: 151358 - Psn: 45)

Porphyrosela minuta in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (9/17/2019).

View Record Details Photo by Tyler Bell MBP List

<em>Porphyrosela minuta</em> mines on White Clover in Harford Co., Maryland (10/5/2017). (Photo ID: 95020 - Psn: 55)

Porphyrosela minuta mines on White Clover in Harford Co., Maryland (10/5/2017).

View Record Details Photo by Dave Webb MBP List

<em>Porphyrosela minuta</em> in Calvert Co., Maryland (11/5/2020). (c) Benji Beluga, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 312627 - Psn: 65)

Porphyrosela minuta in Calvert Co., Maryland (11/5/2020). (c) Benji Beluga, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Ben Springer MBP List

<em>Porphyrosela minuta</em> in Prince George's Co., Maryland (10/1/2022). (c) Matthew Beziat, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 710227 - Psn: 78)

Porphyrosela minuta in Prince George's Co., Maryland (10/1/2022). (c) Matthew Beziat, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Matthew Beziat MBP List

<em>Porphyrosela minuta</em> in Harford Co., Maryland (10/16/2017). (Photo ID: 98802 - Psn: 80)

Porphyrosela minuta in Harford Co., Maryland (10/16/2017).

View Record Details Photo by Dominique Bayne MBP List

<em>Porphyrosela minuta</em> leaf mines in Baltimore City, Maryland (8/13/2012). Verified by Charley Eiseman/BugGuide. (Photo ID: 59886 - Psn: 100)

Porphyrosela minuta leaf mines in Baltimore City, Maryland (8/13/2012). Verified by Charley Eiseman/BugGuide.

View Record Details Photo by Thomas Wilson MBP List

<em>Porphyrosela minuta</em> in Dorchester Co., Maryland (10/28/2021). (c) Deborah Barber, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 510858 - Psn: 132)

Porphyrosela minuta in Dorchester Co., Maryland (10/28/2021). (c) Deborah Barber, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Deborah Barber via iNaturalist MBP List

Porphyrosela minuta in Dorchester Co., Maryland (10/28/2021). (c) Deborah Barber, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Deborah Barber via iNaturalist MBP List

<em>Porphyrosela minuta</em> in Calvert Co., Maryland (9/10/2020). (c) jtylerbell, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 306173 - Psn: 135)

Porphyrosela minuta in Calvert Co., Maryland (9/10/2020). (c) jtylerbell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Tyler Bell MBP List

<em>Porphyrosela minuta</em> in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (8/18/2018). Verified by Charley Eiseman/BugGuide. (Photo ID: 120756 - Psn: 150)

Porphyrosela minuta in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (8/18/2018). Verified by Charley Eiseman/BugGuide.

View Record Details Photo by Tyler Bell MBP List

<em>Porphyrosela minuta</em> in Somerset Co., Maryland (7/25/2021). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 468473 - Psn: 165)

Porphyrosela minuta in Somerset Co., Maryland (7/25/2021). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Wayne Longbottom MBP List

<em>Porphyrosela minuta</em> in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (9/21/2023). (c) jtylerbell, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 917521 - Psn: 166)

Porphyrosela minuta in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (9/21/2023). (c) jtylerbell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Tyler Bell MBP List

<em>Porphyrosela minuta</em> leaf mines on White Clover in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (9/23/2017). Verified by Charley Eiseman/BugGuide. (Photo ID: 91146 - Psn: 200)

Porphyrosela minuta leaf mines on White Clover in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (9/23/2017). Verified by Charley Eiseman/BugGuide.

View Record Details Photo by Bill Hubick MBP List

<em>Porphyrosela minuta</em> in Caroline Co., Maryland (10/3/2020). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 225806 - Psn: 200)

Porphyrosela minuta in Caroline Co., Maryland (10/3/2020). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Wayne Longbottom MBP List

Map Snapshot

139 Records

GA AL WA FR CL MO HO BA BC HA CE PG AA CV CH SM KE QA CN TA DO WI SO WO

Status

Native range is Argentina and Uruguay. Recently established in North America. Present in a handful of states including California, Maryland, and Delaware (BugGuide).

"The leaf mines, larvae, and adult shown [in BugGuide] perfectly match those illustrated by Bentancourt and Scatoni (2007). The only known native Porphyrosela in the US, P. desmodiella, is very similar as an adult. However, it makes underside tentiform mines, not flat upperside mines like those of P. minuta, and Trifolium is not one of its known hosts." (BugGuide)

Relationships

Larvae are leafminers of White Clover.

Seasonality Snapshot

Resources

View at iNaturalist View at Nature Serve Search Google Images Search MBP Facebook posts

View images at BugGuide View in Moth Photographers Group

Use of media featured on Maryland Biodiversity Project is only permitted with express permission of the photographer.

An adult Porphyrosela minuta in Harford Co., Maryland (11/1/2017). View Record Details Media by Josh Emm.

A Porphyrosela minuta reared from leaf mines in White Clover in Harford Co., Maryland (11/1/2017). View Record Details Media by Josh Emm.

A freshly eclosed Porphyrosela minuta in Baltimore Co., Maryland (9/30/2020). View Record Details Media by Dave Webb.

Porphyrosela minuta in Prince George's Co., Maryland (10/17/2020). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). View Record Details Media by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist.

Porphyrosela minuta leaf mines in White Clover in Harford Co., Maryland (9/29/2017). View Record Details Media by Josh Emm.

Porphyrosela minuta in Harford Co., Maryland (9/20/2018). View Record Details Media by Dave Webb.

Porphyrosela minuta in Harford Co., Maryland (10/2/2017). View Record Details Media by Dave Webb.

A Porphyrosela minuta in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (9/28/2018). Determined by Charley Eiseman/BugGuide. View Record Details Media by Tyler Bell.

A Porphyrosela minuta leaf mine in Calvert Co., Maryland (8/23/2019). Verified by Charley Eiseman/BugGuide. View Record Details Media by Tyler Bell.

Porphyrosela minuta in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (9/17/2019). View Record Details Media by Tyler Bell.

Porphyrosela minuta mines on White Clover in Harford Co., Maryland (10/5/2017). View Record Details Media by Dave Webb.

Porphyrosela minuta in Calvert Co., Maryland (11/5/2020). (c) Benji Beluga, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Ben Springer.

Porphyrosela minuta in Prince George's Co., Maryland (10/1/2022). (c) Matthew Beziat, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Matthew Beziat.

Porphyrosela minuta in Harford Co., Maryland (10/16/2017). View Record Details Media by Dominique Bayne.

Porphyrosela minuta leaf mines in Baltimore City, Maryland (8/13/2012). Verified by Charley Eiseman/BugGuide. View Record Details Media by Thomas Wilson.

Porphyrosela minuta in Dorchester Co., Maryland (10/28/2021). (c) Deborah Barber, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Deborah Barber via iNaturalist.

Porphyrosela minuta in Calvert Co., Maryland (9/10/2020). (c) jtylerbell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Tyler Bell.

Porphyrosela minuta in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (8/18/2018). Verified by Charley Eiseman/BugGuide. View Record Details Media by Tyler Bell.

Porphyrosela minuta in Somerset Co., Maryland (7/25/2021). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Wayne Longbottom.

Porphyrosela minuta in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (9/21/2023). (c) jtylerbell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Tyler Bell.

Porphyrosela minuta leaf mines on White Clover in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (9/23/2017). Verified by Charley Eiseman/BugGuide. View Record Details Media by Bill Hubick.

Porphyrosela minuta in Caroline Co., Maryland (10/3/2020). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Wayne Longbottom.

Source: Wikipedia

Porphyrosela minuta
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Gracillariidae
Genus:	Porphyrosela
Species:	P. minuta
Binomial name
*Porphyrosela minuta* Clarke, 1953

Porphyrosela minuta is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is known from Argentina, Brazil and Chile.^[1] It has been recently introduced in North America and is found in several states, as far north as Maryland.^[2]

The larvae feed on Medicago sativa and Trifolium species (including Trifolium pratense). They mine the leaves of their host plant.

References

[edit]

^ Global Taxonomic Database of Gracillariidae (Lepidoptera)
^ https://bugtracks.wordpress.com/2017/03/26/hiding-in-plain-sight/ Hiding in Plain Sigh

Links

[edit]

Bugguide. Info and images

Taxon identifiers
Porphyrosela minuta	Wikidata: Q7230348 Wikispecies: Porphyrosela minuta BioLib: 950183 BOLD: 453752 BugGuide: 1022610 CoL: 4LZCW EoL: 305795 GBIF: 1751146 iNaturalist: 625328 IRMNG: 10616386 LepIndex: 127699 MONA: 0843.1 NCBI: 1448940 Open Tree of Life: 3038708

This article relating to moths in the subfamily Lithocolletinae is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Porphyrosela minuta Clarke, 1953

Synonyms

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