Stigmella hybnerella

Wingspan 4 to 5 mm. A small, narrow-winged species with a strong metallic lustre. The inner part of the forewing is slightly greenish-bronze; there is a silvery fascia and the outer part is tinged reddish-purple. The head is black in the male, between orange and black in the female.

Adult Leafmine

Leafmine occurs on Hawthorn.http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/S.hybnerella.htm

Hedgerows and other well wooded areas where Hawthorn is present.

The adults are on the wing in April and May and July and August.

The larvae mine the leaves of Hawthorn, forming a blotch with irregular black frass. The first generation is quite early, feeding in May and June. The second feeds from late July to September.

Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.

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