Heliozelidae

06.001 Shining Dogwood Cutter Antispila metallella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

Local

Similar species:

Forewing: 4 to 4.5mm

Habitats: Woodland margins, downland, scrub and scrubby cliffs.

Habits: The moth flies in morning and afternoon sunshine.

Foodplant: The larva feeds in a gallery mine with scattered frass on a Dogwood leaf. This eventually leads to a blotch. The larva later cuts an oval in the leaf to form a case, and then drops to the ground. It pupates in its case in leaf litter at soil level or just below.