Ectoedemia subbimaculella
Broken-barred Oak Dot

Wingspan 5-6 mm.

Commonest in south-east England, the distribution expands north and westwards, though the exact distribution is unclear because of earlier confusion with similar species.

The larvae mine oak (Quercus) leaves, initially in a gallery following a vein, then creating a triangular blotch between vein and midrib. It can be distinguished from the similar mines of E. heringi by the presence of a slit in the lower epidermis which allows frass and water to pass.

The adults are similar to E. heringi, but otherwise quite distinctive, with two creamy spots and a creamy basal patch on a violet-tinged blackish forewing.

See also:
Leafmine (British Leaf Mining Fauna)