Bucculatricidae

14.010 Oak Tuft Bucculatrix ulmella Zeller, 1848

Common

Similar species:

Forewing: 3.5 to 4mm

Habitats: Deciduous woodland and parkland.

Habits: The moth rests on tree trunks or fences during the day. It comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva forms a contorted mine close to the midrib of an oak leaf and sometimes ending in a short right-angled turn. It also feeds on Hornbeam and in this case the mine is less contorted and longer. It then eats out windows from the underside of the leaf. The first generation larva pupates in an off-white corrugated cocoon on a leaf. The second generation larva pupates on the trunks of the host tree or adjacent trees.