Lyonetia prunifoliella

Wingspan 9 to10 mm. The most likely way to record this species is probably to search for the larval leafmines on Blackthorn.

The larval mine is a narrow gallery leading to a clear blotch. Strings of black frass hang beneath the blotches. The pupal cocoon is suspended from silken 'guyropes' and closely resembles that of Lyonetia clerkella.

Adult  Leafmine

Adult: Whilst this species remains rare in VC55, good photos are required or retain the specimen for confirmation from the County Recorder.

Leafmine: Good backlit photographs are required, showing gallery/blotch and frass in strings below mine. It may be necessary to get confirmation from the County Recorder.

Hedgerows and gardens where the larval host tree species occur.

The adult moths fly in September, and overwinter, appearing again in the spring.

The larva mines the leaves of various roseaceous trees, such as Blackthorn, Plum/Damson and Apple.

After seemingly dying out in Britain for over 100 years, this moth made a re-appearance in 2007 since when it has been encountered with increasing frequency and looks to be becoming more widespread. At the time of the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was still classified as pRDB1 though this status may need to be reviewed if its numbers continue to increase.

Rare in Leicestershire and Rutland, recent colonist.

http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/L.prunifoliella.htm

https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/yponomeutoidea/lyonetiidae/lyonetia/lyonetia-prunifoliella/