Leaf-miner:
The
larva mines a number of leaves from their base upwards. The larva
hibernates in a hibernaculum in the heart of the plant; pupation
outside 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).
Head and prothoracic shield shining dark brown; body yellowish white
with broad irregular length lines (UKMoths) (Bladmineerders van Europa). The
red stripes on 5 mm larvae usually fade as they grow (UKMoths).
Pupa: The pupae of moths have visible head appendages, wings and legs which lie in sheaths (see examples).
Pupae in June and July, and sometimes August, are attached to
the plant (UKMoths).
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: From late August the young larvae unobtrusively
mine leaves and stems of the foodplant. Leaf mines are largest and
most easily detected in the following April, but larvae are most
obvious in May and early June when they feed externally on the leaves
and flowers of Mossy saxifrage (UKMoths).
Time
of year - adults: June and July, with a small second generation
in late August and early September in some years (UKMoths).
Distribution
in Great Britain and Ireland: Locally common in gardens on
both sides of the Pennines and in southern Scotland (UKMoths)
including Mid-west Yorkshire, Stafford, West Lancashire and Westmorland
(NBN
Atlas).
Also
recorded in the Burren, Co. Clare, Ireland (UKMoths).
Distribution
elsewhere: Continental Europe including French mainland and
Italian mainland (Fauna Europaea).
NBN Atlas links to known host species:
British and Irish Parasitoids in Britain and elsewhere: Currently unknown.
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