Parornix fagivora

Alternative names
Beech Parornix
Beech Slender
Description

Wingspan 9 or 10 mm. Adult moth has an ochreous or fawn tinge to the pale markings and lack of definition in the pattern. The larva creates a mine on the leaves of Beech. The early mine is a blotch with upper epidermis turning brown. Then a fold at the leaf edge or tip of the leaf.

Identification difficulty

Adult Leafmine

Habitat

Wherever Beech is present.

When to see it

Leaf mine may be encountered between July and September.

Life History

Larva mines leaves of Beech, subsequently living within a leaf-fold, over-wintering as a pupa in a cocoon.

UK Status

A rather local species in Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.

VC55 Status

It appears to be uncommon in Leicestershire and Rutland, where there are few records. L&R Moth Group status = D (rare or rarely recorded).

Reference
15.026 BF302

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Beech Slender
Species group:
Moths
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Gracillariidae
Records on NatureSpot:
48
First record:
06/09/2018 (Calow, Graham)
Last record:
14/11/2021 (Leonard, Pete)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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