Phyllonorycter nicellii

Wingspan 7- 8 mm. This can be a difficult group to distinguish. The caterpillars feed on the underside of Hazel leaves, causing a bulge on the upper surface between two veins.  It is usually brown netted with a patch of green on top.

Adult Leafmine leafmine can be similar to Parornix devoniella

Leafmine occurs on Hazel http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/P.nicellii.htm

Found in various habitats.

Moth has two generations and may be found flying in May and August.

Larva forms a long mine between the veins of a Hazel (Corylus) leaf and is strongly arched. The leaf mines may be found in July and then September to October. Larva overwinters as a pupa in a cocoon.

This moth is common and found throughout Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland, but may be under recorded.