Stigmella oxyacanthella

Wingspan 5 to 6 mm. The adults have plain dark forewings with a hint of purple, and an orange head.

Adult Leafmine

Leafmine occurs on Hawthorn (and also on Apple and Pear).http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/S.oxyacanthella.htm

In areas where the larval foodplants occur.

A single generation species with adults flying in June.

The larvae mine the leaves of Hawthorn, Apple and one or two other species. The mine is initially narrow with linear frass, but becomes wide with reddish frass in neat arcs. The larva is bright green and feeds in September and October.

It is common throughout much of 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).