Ectoedemia atricollis

Ectoedemia atricollis

Alternative names
Barred Fruit-tree Dot
Pinch-barred Pigmy
Description

Wingspan 5 to 6 mm.

The larvae mine the leaves of Hawthorn, Apple and other Rosaceae species.  It has a distinctive black head, usually visible in the mine without being dissected out.  Initially, the larvae form galleries along the edge of the leaf, leading to a large blotch on the leaf margin.

Similar Species

The leaf mines are similar to Bohemannia pulverosella, Stigmella hybnerella and Stigmella regiella

Identification difficulty

Adult Leafmine

Recording advice

Vacated mines can be difficult; we recommend recording this as a tenanted mine. Photos should show the black head of the larva.

Habitat

Areas where the larval foodplants are present.

When to see it

The adult moths emerge in a single generation in June.

Life History

The larvae of this species form mines on Hawthorn, Apple, Pear and Wild Cherry. 

UK Status

Widespread throughout England and Wales. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.

VC55 Status

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland. L&R Moth Group status = C (very scarce resident or rare migrant).

Reference
4.095 BF29

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