Gracillariidae

15.080 Large Alder Leaf-miner Phyllonorycter froelichiella (Zeller, 1839)

Common

Similar species:

Forewing: 4.5 to 5mm

Habitats: Marshes, fens and river-banks.

Habits: There is only one brood from the Midlands northwards.

Foodplant: The larva forms a large mine on the underside of an Alder or Italian Alder leaf. It is situated between two veins and stretches from the midrib almost to the leaf margin with multiple minute creases on the underside. There are sometimes as many as four mines in one leaf. The grey larva pupates in a flimsy white cocoon in the mine.