Etainia sericopeza

Etainia sericopeza

Alternative names
Norway Maple Dot
Norway-maple Pigmy
Ectoedemia sericopeza
Description

Wingspan 6 to 8 mm.  The adult moths, though tiny, are relatively strongly patterned for a Nepticulid.  The larva mines the seeds, or samara, of Norway Maple, forming a short gallery from the wing into the seed itself.

Identification difficulty

Adult Samara mine

Recording advice

Good quality photographs required please.  If recording the samara mine please state the host plant species.

Habitat

Areas where Norway Maple is present.

When to see it

Adults fly in May and August, in two generations.

Life History

The larva mines the seeds, or samara of Norway Maple.

UK Status

A rather rare species, found mainly in parts of south-east England but with a few scattered records from further north. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce A.

VC55 Status

Rarely recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Reference
4.074 BF21

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

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

UK Map

Additional images

All NatureSpot records