Leaf-miner
and case-bearer: This species produces a distinctive larval case in its later stages
with a noticeably serrated upper edge, and affixed almost parallel
to the leaf surface. The larvae overwinter when small and recommence
feeding in late spring (UKMoths).
Oviposition
generally in a vein axil. From there a short, relatively wide corridor
is made that quickly widens into an elliptical blotch. Much of the
frass is ejected through the hole that the larva has made to bore
itself into the leaf (in C.
badiipennella, on the same host plant, the frass remains
within the mine. This blotch is excised to make the juvenile case.
The full grown larva lives in a brown spatulate leaf case of 9-11.5
mm; its rear end is bivalved. Mouth angle 0°-20°; just behind
the mouth the case shows a conspicuous bend (Bladmineerders van Europa).
Feeding
traces and the case are illustrated in the Encyclopedia of Life.
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. The species is included in mothdissection.co.uk.
Hosts in Great Britain and Ireland:
Hosts
elsewhere:
Time
of year - larvae: September to October, feeding again in June
and July (British
leafminers).
Time
of year - adults: The elusive adults emerge in June and July
(UKMoths).
Distribution
in Great Britain and Ireland: Distributed mainly in the south
and south-east of England (UKMoths)
including Bedfordshire, Breconshire, Cambridgeshire, Denbighshire, East Kent, East Norfolk,
East Suffolk, Herefordshire, Hertfordshire, Huntingdonshire, Isle of Wight, Middlesex, North Ebudes, North Essex, North Hampshire, North Somerset, Radnorshire, Shropshire, South Essex, South Hampshire, Stafford,
Surrey, Warwickshire, West Gloucestershire, West Norfolk and West Suffolk (NBN
Atlas).
Also recorded from the Republic of Ireland. See also Ireland's National Biodiversity Data Centre Map). (as milvipennis (= limospinella auctorum).
Distribution
elsewhere: Widespread in continental Europe including Albania,
Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Danish mainland, Estonia,
Finland, French mainland, Germany, Greek mainland, Hungary, Latvia,
Lithuania, Macedonia, Norwegian mainland, Poland, Romania, Sardinia,
Sicily, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands. Also recorded
in Near East (Fauna Europaea).
NBN Atlas links to known host species:
British and Irish Parasitoids in Britain and elsewhere:
|