Stigmella aurella

Wingspan 6-7 mm. Adults may only be identified via dissection or if reared from a leaf mine [when orange head colouration separates from black head of S. splendidissimella].

The leaf mines are common on Bramble and other herbaceous species in the Rosaceae (e.g. Herb Bennet and Agrimony).  It is usually a long meandering gallery with dispersed frass, but can have a narrow, neater central frass line that is similar to Stigmella spendidissimella. Old mines become white and persist over winter.

The adults of other Stigmella spp.  The mines can be very similar to Stigmella splendidissimella mines

Adult Leafmine

Leafmine occurs on a number of plants including Bramble, Wild Strawberry, Agrimony and various Geum species.

If possible photograph with backlght, showing frass pattern. Leaf mines with a central narrow undispersed line of frass cannot be identifed and should be reared through to adult.

Areas where the larval foodplants are present.

Tenanted mines typically found May-June, July-August and October-March.

This species is one of the commonest and most widespread in the British Isles.

Common in Leicestershire and Rutland, but recorded mainly from leafmines.

http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/S.aurella.htm

https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/monotrysia/nepticuloidea/nepticulidae/stigmella/stigmella-aurella/