Phyllonorycter emberizaepenella

Alternative names
Honeysuckle Leaf-miner
Large Midget
Description

Wingspan 9 to 10 mm. This is one of several similar looking species but can be identified with care.  The larva mines the leaves of Honeysuckle, Snowberry and Himalayan Honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa) causing a large tentiform mine.  The pupa is in a brown cocoon and has a distinctive flat pupal cremaster, with two very short spikes.

Similar Species

Phyllonorycter trifasciella mines can be very similar but have different cocoon and pupa

Identification difficulty

Adult Leafmine

Recording advice

Photograph the mine and the cocoon or pupa inside

Habitat

Anywhere that the larval foodplants are found.

When to see it

The moth is bivoltine, being in flight in May and August.

Life History

The larval foodplants are Honeysuckle, Snowberry and occasionally Leycesteria formosa. The underside mines formed are large and cause the leaf to become creased. Mines are found in July and again in September and October.

UK Status

Although this moth is found widely throughout Britain, it tends to be found locally and is seldom common. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.

VC55 Status

It appears to be uncommon in Leicestershire and Rutland, where there are few records. L&R Moth Group status = D (rare or rarely recorded).

Reference
15.076 BF354

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Large Midget
Species group:
insect - moth
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Gracillariidae
Records on NatureSpot:
15
First record:
29/10/2013 (Russell, Adrian)
Last record:
11/11/2024 (Smith, Peter)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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