Ectoedemia heringi

Wingspan about 6 mm.  Similar in habits and appearance to Ectoedemia subbimaculella, but the adults have a tendency to have more pale around the base of the wing, and whiter spots

The larva creates a mine in a leaf of Oak, usually close to the midrib, eventually forming a blotch. Unlike E. subbimaculella, the mine does not have a slit in the lower epidermis.  The larva has a red-brown head and continues to feed in 'green islands' in fallen oak leaves.

Other Ectoedemia on oak

Adult Leafmine  

Adults may require identification by gen det.  Leafmine records need to be supported by images of the mine backlit, and also a photo of the underside of the mine. Please state the host tree species.

Where Oak is present.

Adults are on the wing in July; leafmines can be found from October, into December, when mines can be located in fallen leaves containing 'green islands'.

This species is found mainly in the south and south-east of England and parts of Wales.  In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.

Infrequently recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

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

https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/monotrysia/nepticuloidea/nepticulidae/ectoedemia/ectoedemia-heringi/