Species Account

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Distribution

 
 

Summary Data

Season (Adult / Immature):

National Status: Local

Local Status: Rare and local resident.

Local Record: Grade 3   See here for explanation

Flight time: late Mar-early May.

Forewing: 5mm.

Foodplant: Birch.

Regional breakdown:

 VC61VC62VC63VC64VC65
Year first recorded19041859190418831883
Year last recorded20132011201420152015
Number of records451594
Number of individuals213140
Unique positions45984
Unique locations45984
Adult records211100
Immature records12283

For the county, we have a total of 37 records from 30 sites. First recorded in 1859.
 

Photos

02.003 Eriocrania unimaculella 04 tenanted mine
© Dave Shenton
02.003 Eriocrania unimaculella 03 mature larva
© Dave Shenton
02.003 Eriocrania unimaculella 02 tenanted mine
© Dave Shenton
02.003 Eriocrania unimaculella 01
© Charlie Streets

Species Account

For further information refer UK Moths.
For information on genitalia determination refer to Lepidoptera Dissection Group 2013 website for male and female.
Most records are of leafmines. Refer leafmines.co.uk

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: There are scattered records from all five vice-counties, however on map 8 in MBGBI 1 all Yorkshire records are shown as unconfirmed. There are confirmed records from the south of VC63.

Beaumont, 2002: In 1989 the only confirmed records were from the south of VC63, there have been a number of further records from vice-county together with the following:-
VC61. Skipwith Common, 17.4.1994 (GBS); South Cave, 27.4.1994 det. HEB (DBC). NEW VICE-COUNTY RECORD.
VC62. Strenshall Common, 26.4.1989 (MRB). NEW VICE-COUNTY RECORD.

2012 (CHF): We now have confirmed records from all five vice-counties. The adults can be tricky to separate from other birch-feeding Eriocrania species particularly cicatricella. With care these species can be easier to identify from their larvae which all form blotches on birch leaves. The head of the larvae of E. unimaculella is brown anteriorly and black posteriorly. The first thoracic segment has indistinct dark spots. The mine is usually vacated by mid May.
 

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