Photo © Mike Wall

Firethorn Leaf Miner

Phyllonorycter leucographella

Checklist Number
15.053 [B&F: 0332a]

Verification
Record will normally be accepted but photo evidence may be required - check with CMR if not sure of identity

Classification

Family:Gracillariidae
Subfamily:Lithocolletinae
Genus:Phyllonorycter
Species:leucographella
Authority:(Zeller, 1850)

Common in gardens, woodland and parkland throughout much of Britain. Thoroughly naturalised, through accidental introduction in garden plants, the first British record of this adventive species was in Essex in 1989, since when it has spread rapidly northwards to Yorkshire. It was first discovered in Hampshire in early 1998, but probably under-recorded in the county and on the Isle of Wight, where the extent of known records correlate with those areas in which the recording effort is concentrated. Wingspan 6.5-8.5 mm. Imago fairly regular at light, but just as likely to be recorded in the larval stage, when mines are relatively easy to find where they are present. Larva mines leaves of Firethorn, Hawthorn, Apple, Rowan and Whitebeam.

The abundance in each month is indicated as follows:

No records
Very occasional
Irregular
Uncommon
Off-peak, but not unusual
Off-peak, but not unusual
Main flight time
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Adult
Larval

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)