Phyllonorycter stettinensis

Wingspan 6.5-7.5 mm. The adult is quite a dark species compared to other Phyllonorycter, with contrasting whitish bands. The larva mines the leaves of Alder, causing a small oval mine on the upper leaf surface (unike other Phyllonorycter on Alder, which mine under-surface).  The surface of the mine often looks glossy.

Adult Leafmine

Photograph upper surface of mine

Often around Alder.

The moth has two generations, with flight periods in May and August.

The larval foodplant is Alder and it forms a small oval mine on the upper leaf surface, with a crease down the centre. Unlike other species that form an upperside mine, the surface is not papery, but quite glossy and heavily creased. The mine begins green and then turns orange or brown when more mature.

A common and widespread moth in England and Wales, with only a very few Scottish records. 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.stettinensis.htm

https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/gracillarioidea/gracillariidae/lithocolletinae/phyllonorycter/phyllonorycter-stettinensis/