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Some pictures show the pitcher sewn shut, making a balloon shape. Other pictures show that the pitcher was discoloured in spots, probably indicating caterpillar damage. The caterpillar was inside the pitcher, at its base, with liquid around it. On being disturbed by the pitcher being opened, the caterpillar walked around the outside of the pitcher, where it was easy to photograph. Thanks to Michael Butler and Layna Lubimiv for assistance. See this video for the technique employed to find the right pitchers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXaR5msXFV4

On June 29, 2022, I collected this well marked specimen; one of about 15 I’ve collected over the last decade that have this distinct appearance. I knew they were Caloptilia and thought the species was likely C. vacciniella, but Caloptilia experts felt there were too many similar Caloptilia species for a firm confirmation without dissection.
I wanted to see if I could find more data to confirm my original guess as to species or find a better candidate. I compared images of all NA Caloptilia species, found on MPG, BG, iNat, BOLD and Leafminers of NA (C. Eiseman). Species without photos (except C. amphidelta - Ont/PQ) were all located in US west.
I eliminated all Caloptilia species having a purplish forewing with two yellow costal spots but lacking the basal dorsum and tornus spots - easily seen on all my specimens and photos of C. vacciniella - my first guess - and C. anthobaphes a rare species with few photos. No other Caloptilia species has four yellow spots.
There are many excellent C. vacciniella photos on online moth websites, but I found only two good photos for C. anthobaphes – Jim Vargo’s spread shot on MPG and Charley Eiseman’s side view on pg. 248 of Leafminers of NA. Comparing the two C. anthobaphes photos, the numerous C. vacciniella photos and my specimens - along with data from the two original forewing descriptions (see below) provided a possible way to tell which was which.

Both species had incomplete original forewing descriptions.

C. vacciniella:

“The forewings dark purple with ir(r)idescence, with two bright shining costal spots; the first spot triangular, with basal margin oblique and rounded, the posterior margin nearly perpendicular to the costa, the apex reaching the fold; the second spot which is separated from the first one by a distance about equal to the width of the first costal spot, is broadest on the costa and is quite convex on the side directed toward the dorsum; …” (Meyrick,1921)
C. anthobaphes:
“Forewings … deep coppery purple; markings brassy-yellow; an elongate spot along basal forth of dorsum; a rather oblique transverse blotch from costa at 1/3 reaching fold or sometimes nearly to dorsum; a flattened- triangular or semioval blotch on costa beyond 2/3, and a small spot on the tornus opposite: …” (Ely, 1915)
My theory is that the that along with the basal dorsum and tornus spots on these two species the gap size between the costal spots as described by Meyrick “a distance about equal to the width of the first costal spot” might help to tell the two species apart. The C. anthobaphes photos and my specimens both have a gap about twice the width of the first costal spot and the C. vacciniella gap appears pretty much as described by Meyrick.
There are lots of photos of C. vacciniella online (some ID confirmed) that don’t have the Meyrick gap space relationship and Meyrick doesn’t even mention the basal dorsum and tornus spots in his description. Still I think this gap is worth keeping in mind - along with the basal dorsum and tornus spots - when trying to ID these species.
C. anthobaphes is listed as found in NS. and C. vacciniella is listed found in Ont. & probable in PQ in the Canadian checklist Pohl et al. 2018. iNat has a number of unconfirmed observations of C. vacciniella in eastern Canada.
@gpohl; @hughmcguinness; @ceiseman

Unoccupied linear blotch mines were on the undersides of Alternate-leaved Dogwood on July 15, and larvae were in leaves that were rolled from the sides. Three boat-shaped pupae were found inside leaf rolls on July 30; two adults emerged on August 3, 2023; yellowish face; white palp with single band near tip, and wing length of ca. 4 mm are consistent with this species.