Argyresthia trifasciata

Tiny (6-8 mm wingspan) but quite distinctive with three white hoops around a golden background. It also has a white head.  The larva mines the scale leaves of various trees in the Cypress family, entering each leaf through a hole. The mined leaves then turn brown and drop off

Adult leaf mine

Photograph the mines, showing entrance holes, and note host species

Found in areas where the larval food plants grow.

May and June.

Larva mines leaves and shoots of Juniper, Leyland Cypress, Lawson's Cypress and other cultivated conifers.

Not discovered in Britain until 1982 when one was caught in London. Recently the number of records has increased. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.

Becoming fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland. L&R Moth Group status = B (scarce resident or restricted distribution or regular migrant)

http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/A.trifasciata.htm

https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/yponomeutoidea/yponomeutidae/yponomeutinae/argyresthia/argyresthia-trifasciata/