Prochoreutis myllerana

Wingspan 10 to14 mm. It closely resembles Prochoreutis sehestediana.

Prochoreutis sehestediana.

Adult Leafmine

Prochoreutis myllerana is believed to be more common in our region than Prochoreutis sehestediana but both have been recorded in VC55. Adults are not reliably separated without gen det. Additionally, both species feed in same way on same foodplants, so unless reared through for gen det they can probably not be reliably separated in the larval stage.

Can be seen resting on, or flying over, its foodplants which are various members of the Skullcap family.

May to early September.

The life cycle is probably in three overlapping generations, with ova, larvae, pupae and adults often all occurring at the same time. The larva lives at first under a web on a leaf and later in a rolled leaf. Larvae of the various generations probably feed in all months from April to early October. Those from late August ova grow to about 5 mm in the fourth instar in October and then cease feeding and growth, even if kept indoors in warmth. It is assumed winter diapause is passed at this stage, and that feeding is completed on new growth of the foodplants in the following April.

P. myllerana is widespread in Britain but is generally uncommon. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce B.

It appears to be uncommon in Leicestershire and Rutland, where there are few records. L&R Moth Group status = D (rare or rarely recorded). The lack of records may be influenced by the difficulty of distinguishing between this and more common species.