Eriocrania salopiella
Eriocrania salopiella
Adult • Chorlton, Greater Manchester, reared from mine on Betula • © Ben Smart

2.005 BF10

Eriocrania salopiella

(Stainton, 1854)


Wingspan c10 mm.

Well distributed across mainland Britain, but fairly localised, this species is probably overlooked. The adults are golden, marked with purplish, with a distinct pale tornal triangular spot, and a smaller costal spot. The head is covered with yellowish hairs.

The larvae mine the leaves of birch Betula during May and June. The species is the latest of the birch-feeders with the exception of Eriocrania sparrmannella, which feeds mainly in July and August.

The leafmine begins as a narrow gallery in the centre of the leaf, turning into an elongate blotch and then a larger blotch encompassing the leaf margin.

See also:
Leafmine (British Leaf Mining Fauna)
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