Lyonetiidae

21.001 Apple Leaf Miner Lyonetia clerkella (Linnaeus, 1758)

Common

Similar species:

Forewing: 3 to 4.5mm

Habitats: Orchards, gardens, deciduous woodland, hedgerows or wherever the foodplants are found.

Habits: The moth comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva forms a long thin full depth gallery mine on members of the rose family. These include apple, pear, Rowan, whitebeams, Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Blue-fruited Cotoneaster. It has also been recorded from Goat Willow, Hop and birches. The mine winds throughout the leaf over the midrib and veins and also crosses itself. The island that is formed turns brown and dies. Pupation takes place in a sparse cocoon on either side of the leaf and suspended by silk threads.