Species Details

ABH: 15.036

BF: 317

Family: Gracillariidae

Subfamily: Lithocolletinae

Taxon: Phyllonorycter heegeriella

Authority: (Zeller, 1846)

Vernacular: Pale Oak Leaf-miner

Account: Common in oak woodland and areas with scattered oak trees throughout England, Wales and Scotland, except in the far north; commonest in southern England but rare in Ireland. Although not recorded in Hampshire until 1976, it is now widespread; first recorded on the Isle of Wight in 2005. Wingspan 6.5-7.5 mm. Similar to P. tenerella, which lacks the distinctly dark-bordered basal streak, although it occasionally has an ochreous base to the wing with a white central streak extending through this coloration (MBGBI Vol 2). Imago fairly regular at light, but more frequently recorded in the larval stage, when mines are relatively easy to find where they are present. Larva mines leaves of deciduous oak Quercus, over-wintering as a pupa in a cocoon.

Accounts provided by and used with the kind permission of Mike Wall, Hampshire County Moth Recorder. These will in due course be gradually replaced with species accounts with a Surrey context.

Wingspan: 6.5 — 7.5 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 17 May (2009) — 26 Jul (2009)

The flight period of overwintering adults are not given. See the flight chart below the distribution map.

Foodplant: Quercus sp. (an oak).

Foodplant accounts are from the HOSTS database — Natural History Museum, London, UK. (CC0).

Status: Common

UK BAP:

WCA:

Click here to view the full geology map of Surrey.

Verification Grade: 1 — Relatively easily identified 👌

Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/phyllonorycter-heegeriella/

Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 8

Individuals: 0

Earliest Year: 2004

Latest Year: 2020

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