Yponomeutoidea >> Yponomeutidae >> Yponomeutinae >> Swammerdamia

Swammerdamia caesiella

(Hübner, [1796])

Larval feeding type: Under a web on the upperside of a leaf
Larval substrate: Betula populifolia* (Gray Birch), Prunus pensylvanica (Pin Cherry)
Phenology: Adult: 5/10 to 6/26 and 7/12 to 8/24 (84 records)

Comment: NA populations (castaneae Busck, 1914) are genetically different to European; they need dissection to exclude other Swammerdamia and Paraswammerdamia (although so far this is the only such species known to occur in the State). The North American population often has a whiter thorax than the European caesiella (similar to P. albicapitella) and it is not restricted to birch. The larva has pale green patches on each segment either side of the center line, whereas these patches are usually yellowish in the European species on birch.

Status in MA (automated assessment): Fairly widespread, very common
Status in N. America: Native
MA Endangered Species Act status: None
First Year Reported: 1982
Last Year Reported: 2026

Distribution by County: Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester, Middlesex, Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Plymouth, Barnstable
Number of Records: 92