Dyseriocrania subpurpurella

Wingspan 9-14 mm. The moths have metallic golden wings, lightly speckled with purplish or blue tiny spots. The relatively uncommon form fastuosella is much more richly marked with purple spots or striations.

The larva mines the leaves of Oak. The leaf mines are at the tips of young leaves, and have the characterisitc spaghetti-like frass of the Eriocraniidae.

Care is needed to avoid confusion with the sawffly mine Profenusa pygmaea

Adult  Leafmine

Provide photographs of the mine and leaf; check appearance of frass

Woodland areas, and around Oaks

This species is quite an early flyer, being on the wing in April and May, and despite being generally diurnal, is often found in light-traps at night.

The larvae feed internally on leaves of Oak, and create a distinctive 'blotch mine'.

It is common throughout the whole of Britain except the very North of Scotland.

Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland. L&R Moth Group status = A (common and resident)

http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/E.subpurpurella.htm

https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/glossata/eriocraniidae/dyseriocrania/dyseriocrania-subpurpurella/