Mines of what appear to be this species have been found as far north as the Green Swamp in coastal South Carolina.

The mine has the form of a long, slender, serpentine gallery, containing a dark, median frass trail, on the underside or occasionally the upperside of the leaf, with pupation occurring in a slightly enlarged, elliptical chamber at the mine terminus along a leaf edge.

Early instars of the larvae have a highly modified, depressed body for sapfeeding.

The final instar is non-feeding, with all mouthparts reduced or absent except for functional spinneret.

The specific name is derived from the Greek sub (meaning under) and the generic plant name of its host, Persea, in reference to the characteristic leafmining habit of the larva usually on the underside of the leaf.