Bucculatrix cidarella

Wingspan about 9 mm. The larva of this species creates a gallery mine in the leaves of Alder, and in some localities Bog Myrtle. The mine is narrow and almost filled with black frass, starting from a rough black egg-case.

Adult  Leafmine

This is a rarely recorded species in our area and it may be necessary to get expert confirmation of species identification before records are accepted.  Photographs are required to support all records. For leafmine records please include a backlit image and also state the host plant.

Damp areas where Alder occurs.

Tenanted mines can be found in August and September. The adults are rather more difficult to locate, and fly in May and June, sometimes with a second generation in August.

Distributed widely across much of the British Isles, though not always common. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.

Rarely recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/B.cidarella.htm

https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/gracillarioidea/bucculatricidae/bucculatrix/bucculatrix-cidarella/