Parornix scoticella

Wingspan around 10mm. They resemble other species of Parornix, but do show distinctive white palps and frons.

Parornix larvae have 4 distinctive black dots on the prothoracic plate (behind the head)

Adult leaf mine/fold

Frequenting gardens and woodland in the south, and more linked to higher ground in the north.

Adult moths are on the wing in two generations in the south; in May and again in August. Further north there is just one generation in August.

The larva feeds on Rowan and Whitebeam; occasionally on Apple. A blotch is formed in the leaf which turns brown, and the larva pupates in a folded portion of the leaf.

This species is distributed widely over much of the British Isles. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.

It appears to be uncommon in Leicestershire and Rutland, where there are few records. L&R Moth Group status = D (rare or rarely recorded).

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

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