Gracillariidae

15.003 Black-dot Stilt Caloptilia populetorum (Zeller, 1839)

Local

Similar species:

Forewing: 6 to 7.5mm

Habitats: Deciduous woodland and heathland.

Habits: The moth comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva forms a long, broad mine on birch saplings, which runs from the leaf base to the tip and leads to a blotch. This eventually strongly contracts the leaf. The larva then rolls the leaf margin and finally lives in a leaf rolled upwards and lengthways. The cone occupies an entire leaf in which the green, transparent larva feeds. It pupates under a pale green membrane under the leaf.