Leaf-miner:
Lower-surface tentiform mine; lower epidermis with a numerous extremely
fine folds. The mine is exceptionally large, 25 mm on average, and
extends from midrib to leaf margin. The roof of the mine is largely
eaten out but generally a green centre is left over. Often several
mines in a leaf. The mine causes the leaf to contract strongly.
The pupa hangs in the mine, suspended by a loose net of silk. Frass
heaped in a corner of the mine (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).
Pupa: The pupae of moths have visible head appendages, wings and legs which lie in sheaths (see examples).
See
Gregor and Patocka (200a), Patocka and Turcani (2005a). The
pupa strongly resembles the one of Phyllonorycter
harrisella (Bladmineerders van Europa).
Adult:
The adult is illustrated in UKMoths. The species is included in mothdissection.co.uk.

Phyllonorycter distentella adult
Church Wood near Canterbury, Kent
Image: © Francis Solly
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Hosts in Great Britain and Ireland:
Hosts
elsewhere:
Time
of year - larvae: Currently unknown.
Time
of year - adults: Currently unknown.
Distribution
in Great Britain and Ireland: Britain including East Kent, Herefordshire and Monmouthshire (NBN
Atlas).
Distribution
elsewhere: Widespread in continental Europe including Austria,
Belgium, Czech Republic, French mainland, Germany, Hungary, Italian
mainland, Poland, Russia - South, Slovakia, Switzerland and Ukraine.
Also recorded in Near East (Fauna Europaea).
NBN Atlas links to known host species:
British and Irish Parasitoids in Britain and elsewhere:
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