LEAF-MINER. A member of a group of very small moths, known as the Tineidfe, of serial or superfamily rank, containing a number of families and more than 4000 described species. The popular name 'leaf-miner' refers to the fact that the larvae of very many species mine out the chlorophyll from between the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves of plants. The leaf-miners proper belong especially to the tineine families Gracillariidat, Lavernithe, Elaehistiche, Lithocol letidce. Lyonetiidte, and Yeptienlithe, but some of the Tincidx and Gelechiidw are also leaf-min ers. Others of the tineine series are leaf-rollers. leaf-wehbers. seed-feeders, twig-borers, gall-mak 4rs. and root-feeders, and others still feed upon animal matter such as skins, fur, woolen goods (see Cf.oTnEs-MoTn)„ and also upon dried fruits, stored grain, and similar substances. Some of them are leaf-miners only in early life, and later construct cases which they bear around with them while feeding externally on the foliage of plants. This habit is characteristic of the fam ily Coleophorbh .
Although very small, the tineines are frequent ly very beautiful and are ornamented with bril liant metallic scales. The wings are usually very narrow, sometimes lance-shaped, and bear long marginal fringes. Two species of Tinea have been recorded as viviparous. Examples of tine ines are very difficult to collect and to preserve, and this accounts for the fact that, although 4000 species have been described, entomologists are really only just beginning the study of the group. which surely comprises very many thou sands of species.
Certain other insects aside from these little moths are leaf-miners in the larval stage, as cer tain leaf-beetles of the tribe Hispini; certain flies of the families Oscinidfe and Anthomyililfe; and certain saw-flies of the family Tenthredinid:e.
Consult: Sharp, Cambridge Natural History, vol. vi. (London, 1899) ; Comstock, Manual for the Study of Insects (Ithaca. 1895). See BUT TERFLIES AND MOTHS; SAW-FLY.