Rose Leaf Miner - Stigmella anomalella

Wingspan 5 to 6 mm. The adult moths have plain bronzy wings, tinged greenish on the inner two-thirds, and slightly reddish towards the tip. The mine is seen much more often than the moth which is tiny.

Around roses, where the evidence of the mines usually denotes the presence of this species.

There are two generations, with moths flying in May and August, the larval mines occurring in July and from October to November.

The larva mines the leaves of roses, both cultivated and wild varieties. The mine is a long, sinuous gallery which often crosses back over itself. The frass is initially green and cloudy, filling the mine, but later is a thick black central line.

A fairly common species throughout the British Isles.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). In this case this is probably due to the tiny size of the moth, and only those seeking out the leaf mines are likely to produce a record of this species.