any of various insect larvae that bore into and feed on leaf tissue, esp the larva of dipterous flies of the genus Philophylla (family Trypetidae) and the caterpillar of moths of the family Gracillariidae
2.
the adult insect of any of these larvae
leaf miner in American English
any of various insect larvae, esp. of small moths and flies, that burrow into and eat the soft tissues of leaves and green stems
Examples of 'leaf miner' in a sentence
leaf miner
The leaf miner moths are evidently back again this year.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
This is caused by an insect called leaf miner burrowing into the leaves.
The Sun (2009)
Some horse chestnut trees have been attacked by the leaf miner moth again, but this year a good many seem so far to have escaped the blight.