Gracillariidae

15.012 Maple Stilt Caloptilia semifascia (Haworth, 1828)

Local

Similar species:

Forewing: 5 to 6mm

Habitats: Deciduous woodland, woodland margins and rides, mature hedgerows with trees and parks.

Habits: The moth comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva feeds on Field Maple or occasionally Sycamore or Norway Maple. At first a mine is formed on the underside of a leaf leading to a squarish blotch. It later makes two or three successive tubes on Field Maple. This is done by rolling down the tips of the leaves and spinning the adjacent lobes over the ends. On Sycamore it makes a neat cone. It pupates under a membrane under a leaf.