Nepticulidae

04.026 Fruit-tree Dot Stigmella oxyacanthella (Stainton, 1854)

Common

Similar species:

Forewing: 2.5 to 3mm

Habitats: Woodland, parks and gardens.

Habits:

Foodplant: The larva forms a long gallery mine with linear frass following a vein in a leaf of Hawthorn, Apple, Pear, Tree Cotoneaster or possibly Rowan. The mine widens only a little and later winds freely through the leaf disregarding the veins. In thick, sunlit leaves the mine is often much shorter. It pupates on the soil surface or spun in the leaf litter.