Phyllonorycter lantanella

Wingspan about 9 mm. A well marked brown and white species similar to several other members of this family.

Adult Leafmine

Leafmine occurs on Wayfaring-tree (occasionally on Guelder-rose) http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/P.lantanella9.htm

In areas where the larval food plants occur.

There are two generations, with moths on the wing in May and August, and leaf mines evident in July and from September onwards, the second generation overwintering in this stage.

The larval foodplants are Wayfaring Tree (Viburnum lantana) and other Viburnum species, such as Guelder Rose. The larval mine is on the underside of the leaf, causing a strong fold and distorting the leaf, sometimes more than one mine to a leaf.

This species occurs in the southern counties of England and Wales, ranging north to the Midlands. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.

Rare in Leicestershire and Rutland, the Tinwell record of 27th September 2013 is the first for VC55. L&R Moth Group status = D (rare or rarely recorded).