Praydidae

22.001 Northern Birch Miner Atemelia torquatella (Lienig & Zeller, 1846)

Notable A

Similar species:

Forewing: 4 to 5.5mm

Habitats: Scottish mosses, lower slopes of mountains and glens.

Habits: The moth has been recorded nectaring on Mountain Everlasting.

Foodplant: The larva feeds on birch (especially Downy Birch seedlings) and has been recorded at least once on Bog Myrtle. It forms a leaf blotch mine usually against the midrib and without a preceding gallery. Mines may contain more than one larva. It hibernates in the mine and may leave it and start a new one. It sometimes feeds outside the mine in a temporary web under a leaf. It pupates in a sparse cocoon in the leaf litter.