Gracillariidae

15.032 Southern Blackthorn Parornix Parornix finitimella (Zeller, 1850)

Common

Similar species:

Forewing: 4.5 to 5mm

Habitats: Deciduous woodland, woodland margins, hedgerows, gardens and orchards.

Habits: The moth comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva forms a gallery mine on the lower side of a Blackthorn or Plum leaf. This is expanded to a full depth, greyish, distended blotch between the veins. The larva later inhabits two successive downward folds at the leaf margin. The full-fed larva pupates in a cocoon spun under a leaf edge.