Phyllonorycter messaniella

Alternative names
Ilex Leaf-miner
Garden Midget
Description

Wingspan 7 to 9 mm. The leaf mines caused by the larvae are usually found on the underside and have a typical 'tented' appearance with a crease line across the surface.  The frass is characteristically arranged in a U-shape around the cocoon.

The larvae mine the leaves of Oak, Hornbeam, Beech or Sweet Chestnut, and sometimes on other tree species.  On oak the species is difficult to identify from the mine alone.  The pupa has a distinctive arrangements of hooks at the very end, known as the 'cremaster'.  There is a key and description of these on Bladmineerders.nl here

Similar Species

Other Phyllonorycter

Identification difficulty

Adult Leafmine (Oak) (Holm Oak/SwChes) (Beech)

Recording advice

Photograph the underside of mine on Holm Oak, and backlit on Sweet Chestnut and Beech.  On other oaks and other tree species, it is necessary to examine the pupa and photograph the cremaster - often this is sticking out of a vacated mine.

Habitat

Wherever the larval foodplants occur.

When to see it

The adult moths occur in a number of generations, any time between April and November.

Life History

The larvae mine the leaves of Oak, Hornbeam, Beech or Sweet Chestnut, and sometimes on other tree species. The mines can be seen during March and April and again July to October.

UK Status

Fairly common throughout much of the British Isles, though more so in the south. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.

VC55 Status

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

Reference
15.040 BF321

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Garden Midget
Species group:
Moths
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Gracillariidae
Records on NatureSpot:
132
First record:
04/10/2011 (Calow, Graham)
Last record:
03/04/2025 (Calow, Graham)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records