Stigmella plagicolella
Wingspan 4 to 5 mm. They have dark forewings with bronzy and purple sheens and a neat whitish fascia.
Leafmine occurs on Blackthorn. http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/S.plagicolella2.htm
Areas where the larval foodplants are found.
The adults are on the wing from May to June and again in August.
The larvae feed on Prunus, mainly Blackthorn creating a roundish blotch which begins as a narrow gallery. These can be found in July and again in September and October.
A fairly common species throughout England, Wales and Ireland. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland.
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
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MAP KEY:
Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015