Leaf-miner
and case-bearer: The fully developed 4 mm to 5 mm case is made
of seven to ten mined heather leaves arranged in a neat herring-bone
pattern. The cases closely resemble sprigs of heather and are best
found by placing swept debris in a box, where the larvae will reveal
themselves by climbing the sides (UKMoths).
Very
small (c. 4 mm) light brown lobe case with a mouth angle of about
40°. The case is composed of 8-10 small leaf fragments, placed
in herringbone manner, giving the case the appearance of a small
browned ling branchlet (Bladmineerders van Europa).
The
case is also illustrated in British
leafminers and UKMoths.
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 not illustrated in UKMoths (check for update). The species is included in mothdissection.co.uk.
Hosts in Great Britain and Ireland:
Hosts
elsewhere:
Time
of year - larvae: September to April (British
leafminers).
Time
of year - adults: Late June and July in afternoon sun over heather
on heaths, moors and occasionally gardens (UKMoths).
Distribution
in Great Britain and Ireland: Most parts of Britain (UKMoths)
including Banffshire, Bedfordshire, Caernarvonshire, Denbighshire,
Dorset, Dunbartonshire, East Cornwall, East Kent, East Norfolk, East Ross, East Suffolk, Flintshire,
Glamorgan, Herefordshire, Hertfordeshire, Kincardineshire, Kirkudbrightshire, Linlithgow, Merionethshire, Middlesex, North Nortumberland, Outer Hebrides, Shropshire, South Aberdeenshire, Stafford,
Surrey, Werst Cornwall, West Gloucestershire, West Norfolk, Westmorland and Wigtownshire (NBN
Atlas).
Also
recorded in the Republic of Ireland (Fauna Europaea and National Biodiversity Data Centre Map).
Distribution
elsewhere: Widespread in continental Europe including Austria,
Belgium, Czech Republic, Danish mainland, Estonia, Finland, French
mainland, Germany, Greek mainland, Hungary, Italian mainland, Latvia,
Norwegian mainland, Poland, Portuguese mainland, Slovakia, Spanish
mainland, Sweden, Switzerland and The Netherlands (Fauna Europaea).
NBN Atlas links to known host species:
British and Irish Parasitoids in Britain and elsewhere:
|