Coleophora milvipennis

Wingspan 11 to13mm. The adult moths have buff to ochreous forewings with a whitish streak along the costa. Similar to a number of other Coleophora species, and gen det is necessary for an accurate id.

The larves makes a flattened case, often with serrated edge; it is often recorded mining along the edge of the leaf close to the petiole.

There are many species of Coleophora found on birch

Adult leafmine/case

Various habitats, especially areas containing Birch.

There is a single generation with adults in July.

The larval foodplant is Birch the larva constructing a long narrow case from which it feeds, creating brown blotches on the leaves.

A local species, distributed in the southern half of England to Yorkshire, and in parts of Scotland. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.

Rare in Leicestershire and Rutland. The Sapcote record of 20th July 2013 is the first record for VC55. L&R Moth Group status = D (rare or rarely recorded).

http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/C.milvipennis.htm

https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/gelechioidea/coleophoridae/coleophora/coleophora-milvipennis/