Parornix finitimella

Wingspan around 10 mm. Like other Parornix species, the adults of P. finitimella are difficult to identify and are best determined by the structure of the genitalia.

The larval foodplant, Blackthorn is shared with the similar Parornix torquillella and the mines cannot be distinguished unless larvae are examined.  P. finitimella is greyish with black rings on the legs, whereas P torquillella is usually pale green with concolorous legs.

Parornix torquillella leaf mines are identical

Adult leaf mine/fold

Only tenanted leaf-mines can be recorded.  Photographs must show the mine on the leaf and the larva, show clearly the colour of front (thoracic) legs

Various habitats especially where Blackthorn is present.

There are two generations, flying in May and again in August.

Distributed in the southern half of England and Wales, ranging northwards to Yorkshire. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland. L&R Moth Group status = C (very scarce resident or rare migrant).

http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/P.finitimella.htm

https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/gracillarioidea/gracillariidae/gracillariinae/parornix/parornix-finitimella/