4.088 BF36a

Ectoedemia heringella

(Mariani, 1939)

Wingspan c. 5-6mm.

This species was first discovered in England in 1996, when it was found in Greater London but its identity was not confirmed until 2001.

Since then it has been found found across a large part of south-eastern England, and as far north as Cambridgeshire. The larvae feed on holm or evergreen oak (Quercus ilex), creating a contorted gallery mine in the leaves.

Usually there are several, often many larvae mining a single leaf. Mines occur from November through to April.

The adult moths emerge in June or July and like many of the group are rarely encountered, unless they are reared from mines collected in the autumn or winter.

See also: Leafmine (British Leaf Mining Fauna)