Gracillariidae

15.025 Birch Parornix Parornix betulae (Stainton, 1854)

Common

Similar species:

Forewing: 4.5 to 5mm

Habitats: Birch woodland and heathland.

Habits: The moth occasionally comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva forms a gallery mine on the lower side of a birch leaf. This later becomes an upper surface blotch with the lower side of the leaf becoming discoloured brown. It then makes two successive downward folds at the tip of the leaf or on the leaf margin. Pupation takes place in a folded leaf edge which is usually in the leaf litter.