Trifurcula immundella

Wingspan 6 to 8 mm. One of the palest of our Nepticulids, with a buff ground-colour, slightly darker mottling and yellowish head with white eyecaps.

Areas where the larval foodplant, Broom is present.

The adult moths are on the wing between June and August, and can be beaten from the foodplant.

The larva mines not in leaves, but under the bark of twigs of Broom (Sarothamnus scoparia). The mine is visible as a dark gallery, but is easily confused with the similar mine of Leucoptera spartifoliella.

The species is probably fairly frequent throughout much of the British Isles, but easily overlooked. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.

It appears to be uncommon in Leicestershire and Rutland, where there are few records. L&R Moth Group status = D (rare or rarely recorded).