Phyllonorycter klemannella
Phyllonorycter klemannella
Dark Alder Midget
Phyllonorycter kleemannella
Wingspan 7 to 9 mm. The larva mines the leaves of Alder, creating a tentiform mine between two veins on the underside, with a winkled surface withut sharp folds. The larva is white or yellow, and the pupa is in a cocoon with frass heaped to one side.
It can be similar to mines of P rajella or P froehlichiella. If in doubt, examine larva or pupa. (ref. Bladmineerders.nl)
Photogrpah the under-surface of the mine, and larva/pupa. Note host species
Around Alder.
The adults fly mostly in August, but the species may produce two broods a year, with moths also recorded in May.
The larva feeds on alder, forming a small blotch mine on the underside of a leaf. Sometimes several larvae mine the same leaf.
Distributed throughout mainland Britain, though rare in the southern half of Scotland and in Ireland, it can be common in places. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Once considered rare in Leicestershire and Rutland, but with more leafmining activity taking place in recent years this species has proved to be much more common than previously thought.
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
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MAP KEY:
Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020
UK Map
Additional images
No additional images available for this species.



