Seed-feeder
and case-bearer: The larva feeds internally at first on seeds and then makes a distinctive
'dirty-looking' case, which is coated with dark granules (British
leafminers).
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).
Pupa: The pupae of moths have visible head appendages, wings and legs which lie in sheaths (see examples).
Adult:
The adult is illustrated in UKMoths. The species is included in mothdissection.co.uk.
Hosts in Great Britain and Ireland:
Hosts
elsewhere:
Time
of year - larvae: September to October (British
leafminers).
Time
of year - adults: Currently unknown.
Distribution
in Great Britain and Ireland: Britain including Anglesey,
Caernarvonshire, Carmarthenshire, Denbighshire, Dorset, East cornwall, East Norfolk, East Suffolk, Flintshire, Glamorgan, Isle of Wight, North
Essex, North Somerset, South-east Yorkshire, West Cornwall, West Lancashire and West Norfolk (NBN
Atlas). The known host plant species are usually found on or near the coast.
Also
recorded in the Republic of Ireland (Fauna Europaea and National Biodiversity Data Centre Map).
Distribution
elsewhere: Widespread in continental Europe including Belgium,
Danish mainland, Estonia, Finland, French mainland, Germany, Hungary,
Latvia, Norwegian mainland, Poland, Romania, Russia - North, Sweden,
The Netherlands and Ukraine (Fauna Europaea).
NBN Atlas links to known host species:
British and Irish Parasitoids in Britain and elsewhere: Currently unknown.
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