Citrus Leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton

The small leafmining moth, Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton, family Gracillariidae (subfamily Phyllocnistinae), or the citrus leafminer (CLM), was found in late May 1993 in several citrus nurseries in Homestead, Florida, other parts of Dade Co., and in Broward and Collier cos. CLM is a new New World, continental United States, and Florida resident. It is potentially a serious pest of citrus and related Rutaceae, and some related ornamental plants (Beattie 1989; Clausen 1933; Kalshoven 1981). CLM has previously been intercepted in the USA in 1914 (ports not noted) on citrus and Atalantia sp. horticulture stock imports from the Philippines (Sasscer 1915). CLM is considered a potentially serious threat to Florida citrus and native Rutaceae. It has not previously been reported mining fruit rinds, but several possible cases have been observed in Florida.