Nepticulidae

04.005 Birch Dot Stigmella betulicola (Stainton, 1856)

Local

Similar species:

Forewing: 2 to 2.5mm

Habitats: Woodland, scrubby heathland, marshes and fens, scottish moorland and mountain slopes.

Habits:

Foodplant: The larva forms a short, twisted gallery mine in a leaf of Dwarf Birch or probably other birches. The mine widens only slightly and contains linear frass which is irregular. The mines are often found on sheltered seedlings or small plants with several to a leaf. It pupates in a cocoon in the leaf litter.