[Relationship between oviposition preference and the subsequent performance of citrus leafminer Phyllocnistis citrella [Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae] larvae] The female citrus leafminer Phyllocnistis citrella [Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae] principally favours young leaves that are the richest in nutritive elements to lay eggs and leaves aside the oldest ones. Females also tend to come back to a host already infested with supernumerary egg deposition by other females. The result of this behaviour is a high larval mortality, but the size of the survivors is not affected as regulation occurs through the elimination of supernumerary individuals.