Wingspan 11-14 mm. This species can be distinguished from other Gypsonoma species by the creamy-white patch on the front of the head, which is pure white in G. sociana and darker on others.

The larvae mine the midrib of various species of trees and shrubs, commonly willows, sallows or oak, but may be other species.  The larva then feeds from a silken tube crusted with frass, on the underside of the leaf beside the midrib, retreating into the midrib when disturbed.  The larva is pale grey or yellowish-cream in colour.

Gypsonoma oppressana on Poplars

Adult mine/feeding tube

Well wooded areas

The normal flight period is July and August when the moths fly from dusk onwards.

The larvae feed on a range of deciduous trees, windowing leaves in autumn and eating the buds, catkins, young shoots and then spun leaves in the spring.

It is widely distributed over England, Wales and Ireland, though commoner in the south. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.

Uncommon with few records from Leicestershire and Rutland. L&R Moth Group status = D (rare or rarely recorded)

http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/G.dealbana.htm

https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/apoditrysia/tortricoidea/tortricidae/olethreutinae/eucosmini/gypsonoma/gypsonoma-dealbana/#:~:text=parasite,bores%20into%20buds%20or%20catkins.