Bucculatricidae

14.009 Lime Tuft Bucculatrix thoracella (Thunberg, 1794)

Common

Similar species:

Forewing: 3 to 4mm

Habitats: Deciduous woodland and parkland.

Habits: The moth comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva forms a narrow mine on Small-leaved Lime or Common Lime usually following a leaf vein and ending in a right-angled turn. It later eats out brown edged windows from below while avoiding all the veins. The larvae lower themselves on silk threads to pupate in a pink-brown cocoon on the trunks of the host tree or adjacent trees.