Gracillariidae

15.052 Hawthorn Leaf-miner Phyllonorycter corylifoliella (Hübner, 1796)

Common

Similar species:

Forewing: 4 to 4.5mm

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

Habits:

Foodplant: The larva mines the upperside of a leaf of apple, Hawthorn, pear, whitebeam or occasionally others in the rose family. In the north of Britain the form betulae is found on birches in September and October only. It is possibly a distinct species. The mine is usually over a vein. The surface is silvery white, but later with orange flecks before being enclosed by the upward folding leaf. There is a fine inner mine that can be seen if the leaf is held up to the light which distinguishes it from Callisto denticulella when on apples and from Phyllonorycter leucographella which also lacks the rusty flecks.