Bucculatricidae

14.013 Birch Tuft Bucculatrix demaryella (Duponchel, 1840)

Local

Similar species:

Forewing: 4 to 4.5mm

Habitats: Deciduous woodland, heathland and breckland.

Habits:

Foodplant: At first the larva forms a short, narrow, contorted mine on birches or occasionally Sweet Chestnut. In the west of England & Ireland it also uses Hazel. The contorted mine which is filled with frass later follows along a vein before forming a short right-angled chamber. It eventually eats windows from both upper and lower surfaces leaving only the fine veins. The larva pupates in an off-white corrugated cocoon attached to debris.