Mark Skevington🦋🦊🟢

Stigmella oxyacanthella (and Lyonetia clerkella) on Prunus sp. (cherry). Lutterworth CP, Leics. (UK) 05/10/2025.

Stigmella assimilella on Aspen. Lutterworth CP, Leics. (UK) 05/10/2025.

A very early tenanted Ectoedemia argyropeza mine on Aspen. Lutterworth CP, Leics. (UK) 05/10/2025.

Parornix scoticella (and Phyllonorycter leucographella) on Rowan. Lutterworth CP, Leics. (UK) 05/10/2025.

A few more leafmine species found in a short stroll around Lutterworth CP yesterday pm included what I feel sure must be vacated Stigmella oxyacanthella on some sort of cherry, and a mess of a vacated Stigmella assimilella mine on Aspen - a relatively scarce find in VC55. #vc55moths #teammoth

Looks fine to me.

YouTube video by Skevdig Give Me Spice!

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www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjYm...
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This one only needs gen detting if eg adults to light; absolutely fine to record from the leafmine on Field Maple and Norway Maple without having to rear (though finding tenanted mines with the larva present is best from a purist listing perspective).

Believe the number of instars will vary, presumably clinally, depending on whether one or two years overwintering as larvae. Trust you realise these will need to be overwintered, that'll be the trickier bit.

Stigmella regiella, larva with two marks behind head. Aston Firs, Leics. (UK) 18/09/2025.

Ectoedemia atricollis, larva with dark head. Burbage Common, Leics. (UK) 18/09/2025.

A couple from hawthorn today in Leics. with Stigmella regiella a new one for me (confirmed via @vc28wildlife.bsky.social) and Ectoedemia atricollis the first I've found this year. Both tenanted mines which is pretty key for several hawthorn miners. #vc55moths #teammoth

Stigmella aceris, x4 vacated mines on a dark purple Norway Maple variant. Whetstone, Leics. (UK) 16/09/2025. The mines are barely visible until back-lit.

Whilst we were out at a local park yesterday with my young granddaughter, she saw me checking leaves and wanted to have a couple of different shapes/colours. I didn't notice until much later in the day that this dark purple Norway Maple variant had x4 Stigmella aceris mines. #vc55moths #teammoth

In what sense?

Firethorn Leaf-miner (Phyllonorycter leucographella) on Malus sp. (apple) left and Whitebeam right. Whetstone, Leics. (UK) 16/09/2025. Also found today on cultivated Firethorn (Pyracantha).

Phyllonorycter leucographella was presumably given the vernacular Firethorn Leaf-miner when it turned up here on Pyracantha, but the name seems increasingly irrelevant when it is found on several hosts. I often find it on hawthorn here, and today on apple and Whitebeam. #vc55moths #teammoth

Ectoedemia albifasciella, tenanted mines on oak. Narborough Bog, Leics. (UK) 16/09/2025.

Stigmella ruficapitella, tenanted mine on oak. Narborough Bog, Leics. (UK) 16/09/2025.

Stigmella basiguttella, vacated mine on oak. Narborough Bog, Leics. (UK) 16/09/2025.

Bucculatrix ulmella, vacated mines on oak. Narborough Bog, Leics. (UK) 16/09/2025.

A few from oak today; tenanted mines of Ectoedemia albifasciella and Stigmella ruficapitella, and vacated mines of Stigmella basiguttella and Bucculatrix ulmella. I also collected a few Phyllonorycter mines that will need rearing/checking. #vc55moths #teammoth

Brindled Green (Dryobotodes eremita). Whetstone, Leics. (UK) 15/09/2025.

Lunar Underwing (Anchoscelis lunosa). Whetstone, Leics. (UK) 15/09/2025.

I've not had my garden trap out for over a week thanks to weather/work, but I was intent on it going out last night regardless of the conditions. 33 of 11sp. was an unsurprisingly modest return, but included NFY Brindled Green and Lunar Underwing plus a Red (not blue) Underwing. #vc55moths #teammoth

Phyllocnistis unipunctella on a Populus sp., perhaps Balm-of-Gilead, or some other sort of Balsam Poplar / cottonwood hybrid. Enderby, Leics. (UK) 13/09/2025.

Here's a common miner on a less common host (at least here in VC55). This is Phyllocnistis unipunctella on a Populus hybrid (perhaps Balm-of-Gilead) from a local park where there are a few planted. These have big elongated spade-shaped leaves that are quite thick/tough. #vc55moths #teammoth

Been on the increase in eg Beds and further east I believe so one on my distant radar but wasn't expecting one any time soon.

Plumed Fan-foot (Pechipogo plumigeralis) new to VC55. Quorn, Leics. (UK) 12/09/2025 - recorded and photographed by Anthony Plummer.

News from VC55: Plumed Fan-foot new to VC list, recorded by Anthony Plummer to light in Quorn last night. His photo attached. #teammoth #vc55moths

Chrysoesthia sexguttella. Cosby, Leics. (UK) 13/09/2025.

Chrysoesthia drurella. Cosby, Leics. (UK) 13/09/2025.

From a load of mixed Chenopodium sp. and Atriplex sp. along an arable margin this morning, pretty sure these are all off of Fat-hen despite the apparent differences in leaf shape/size. Lots of tenanted Chrysoesthia sexguttella, and a few vacated/failed Chrysoesthia drurella. #vc55moths #teammoth

Def. Convolvulus - hope not your first!

Hmmm ....
Think I'd be putting that down as hohenwartiana agg. and hoping it was female for gen det.

Yes, can be limiting! That was one of my barriers for a good while.

A presumed tenanted (or failed) mine of Heliozella resplendella. The larva mines along veins and down the mid-rib. A completed mine will have an oval cut out just off of the mid-rib in the next 'panel' below the mine. Meridian Balancing Lagoon, Leics. (UK) 08/09/2025.

There are around 11spp. that can be found as leafmines on Alder, including x2 Stigmella spp. and x4 Phyllonorycter spp. (plus another on Grey Alder). I found an Alder a couple of days ago on which I failed to find any of these, and only found one mine - Heliozella resplendella. #vc55moths #teammoth

Absolutely, and the more you look the more you notice smaller or less distinct mines. There is always a BUT ... as with adults to light, there are some that cannot be reliably named without checking the larva, pupa or rearing to dissect. But plenty to go at without any of that.

Leafmines recorded 2025 YTD, all from VC55 Leics. & Rutland. 61spp. plus Phyllocnistis saligna/asiatica (pending clarity on host plant separation), and Phyllonorycter dubitella (hoping to rear and det. to confirm).

I am not a prolific recorder of moth leafmines, and I'm not very structured either, just checking greenery en route as I amble about. Very occasionally I'll be more focussed on a particular host or target species. There is plenty of time, but 61 spp. recorded so far this year. #vc55moths #teammoth

Antispila petryi on Dogwood (larval excision is c4.5mm). Meridian Balancing Lagoon, Leics. (UK) 08/09/2025.

Caloptilia honoratella, early mine on Sycamore. Meridian Balancing Lagoon, Leics. (UK) 08/09/2025.

Stigmella plagicolella on Prunus sp. (cherry) - haven't found this on a cherry host previously. Watergate Lane, Leics. (UK) 08/09/2025.

Bucculatrix bechsteinella on hawthorn. Whetstone, Leics. (UK) 09/09/2025.

A few more leafmines found over the last couple of days in Leics. [details in alt text as usual]. I've not found Antispila petryi and Caloptilia honoratella mines previously, and whilst I've found Stigmella plagicolella all over the place I've not found it on cherry before. #vc55moths #teammoth

Loads of common stuff that exceeds the character limit 🤣

x4 to lure, x3 to MV (out of sight of lure but likely a factor).

Phyllonorycter pastorella, TM on crack willow. Western Park, Leics. (UK) 06/09/2025.

Parornix devoniella, VM on hazel. Western Park, Leics. (UK) 06/09/2025.

Phyllonorycter maestingella, TM on beech. Western Park, Leics. (UK) 06/09/2025.

Stigmella hybnerella, TM on hawthorn. Western Park, Leics. (UK) 06/09/2025.

A few leafmines found yesterday at Western Park, Leics. in an hour or so around a relatively small circuit. I found c23 species in total. #vc55moths #teammoth

Bordered Straw (Heliothis peltigera). Whetstone, Leics. (UK) 06/09/2025.

Not had too much to get excited about in my garden trap for a good week or so, and last night was very windy so no great expectations. Surprised to find a box-fresh Bordered Straw, along with x7 Dewick's Plusia, a European Corn-borer and a few Scrobipalpa ocellatella. #vc55moths #teammoth

Not quite as fast, a few recs this year in south/west Leics.

Yes understand that, and expect very few records will come through. Always easy to miss that something may be common where you are, but very scarce/rare elsewhere.

Would be. Sorry tes meant July.

From a quick squint: Crassa tinctella highly unlikely in August and needs gen det; Monochroa palustrellus not recorded in VC55; several gen det only spp and VC55 scarcities like Jersey Tiger and Kent Black Arches. Rutland Water is and always has been regularly trapped so will see what comes through.