Leaf-miner
and case-bearer: Lobe case. Many small leaf fragments are attached to the tubular
case; its end is strongly curved downwards. The larvae are attached
to the leaf underside, where they make a large number of relatively
small full depth mines (Bladmineerders van Europa).
Only one case is formed and this is coated in leaf fragments (as shown). The final case is strongly curved and about 5mm long (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).
The larva is illustrated in Bladmineerders van Europa.
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 by Tom Sleep. The species is included in mothdissection.co.uk.
Hosts in Great Britain and Ireland:
Hosts
elsewhere:
Time
of year - larvae:
Full grown cases in August and October (Bladmineerders van Europa).
Time
of year - adults: Currently unknown.
Distribution
in Great Britain and Ireland: Britain including Caernarvonshire,
Dorset, East Suffolk, Herefordshire, Hertfordshire, Middlesex, Shropshire, South Wiltshire, Surrey, West Kent, West Lancashire and Worcestershire (NBN
Atlas).
Also
recorded in the Republic of Ireland (Fauna Europaea and National Biodiversity Data Centre Map).
Distribution
elsewhere: Widespread in continental Europe including Albania,
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Danish mainland, Estonia, Finland,
French mainland, Germany, Hungary, Italian mainland, Latvia, Lithuania,
Poland, Russia - Central, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland and The
Netherlands (Fauna Europaea).
NBN Atlas links to known host species:
British and Irish Parasitoids in Britain and elsewhere:
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