Leaf-miner:
The larva forms a cone and feeds within it (UKMoths). The larva makes a relatively long, lower surface gallery, that widens into a blotch of c. 6 mm long, where all leaf tissue is consumed, leaving only the venation. Later larval stages live free, living in three, successively larger, leaf rolls made of downfolded leaf segments (Bladmineerders van Europa).
Larva: The larvae of moths have a head capsule and chewing mouthparts with opposable mandibles (see video of a gracillarid larva feeding), six thoracic legs and abdominal legs (see examples).
The larva is illustrated in Bladmineeders van Europa.
Pupa: The pupae of moths have visible head appendages, wings and legs which lie in sheaths (see examples).
The pupa is illustrated in Bladmineeders van Europa.
Adult:
The adult is illustrated in UKMoths by Matthias Biere. The species is included in mothdissection.co.uk.
Hosts in Great Britain and Ireland:
Hosts
elsewhere:
Time
of year - larvae: July-August (British
leafminers).
Time
of year - adults: The adult flies from September and overwinters
(UKMoths).
Distribution
in Great Britain and Ireland: A very rare species in Britain,
which has not been recorded reliably since the 1950's where it was
noted in Gloucester. It is also believed to have been present in
Northampton in the 19th century. A number of supposed records elsewhere
are now believed to be misidentifications (UKMoths);
Stafford and West Norfolk (NBN
Atlas).
Distribution
elsewhere: Widespread in continental Europe including Austria,
Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, French mainland, Germany,
Hungary, Italian mainland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norwegian
mainland, Poland, Portuguese mainland, Romania, Russia - Central
and South, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland and Ukraine (Fauna Europaea).
NBN Atlas links to known host species:
British and Irish Parasitoids in Britain and elsewhere:
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