Nepticulidae

04.0785 Acalyptris platani (Müller-Rutz, 1934)

Unknown

Similar species:

Forewing: 2.5 mm.

Habitats: Street and parkland trees.

Habits: Found in Portugal, Spain, France, Switzerland, Croatia, Ukraine, Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria and Iran. It was first recorded in Britain as a leaf mine on London Plane in Russell Park, Middlesex, London on 26th October 2023.

Foodplant: The egg is laid on the underside of a plane leaf. The full depth larval mine travels to a vein, then along it before leaving to form a contorted sinuous mine across the leaf. The larva exits through the upper surface to pupate outside of the mine. As well as London Plane in Britain, it has also been recorded feeding on Oriental Plane Platanus orientalis.