By late summer, skeletonizing by the light green larvae causes conspicuous browning. Insects overwinter as pupae in ground litter. Moths appear from late June to late July. Eggs, which are laid singly on either surface of a leaf, hatch in about 2 weeks and young larvae enter the leaf and feed as miners. In 3 to 4 weeks, they emerge through the lower surface of the leaf and spin webs in which they molt.
Defoliation occurs late in summer, when most growth is completed.
Large-scale control is not usually warranted, though population levels on ornamental trees can be reduced by raking and burning leaves. Drooz, A.T. 1985. Insects of Eastern Forests . USDA Forest Service Miscellaneous Publication 1426. Insects That Feed on Trees and Shrubs .