Parornix finitimella

Parornix finitimella

Alternative names
Southern Blackthorn Parornix
Pointed Slender
Description

Wingspan around 10 mm. Like other Parornix species, the adults of P. finitimella are difficult to identify and are best determined by the structure of the genitalia.

The larval foodplant, Blackthorn is shared with the similar Parornix torquillella and the mines cannot be distinguished unless larvae are examined.  P. finitimella is greyish with black rings on the legs, whereas P torquillella is usually pale green with concolorous legs.

Similar Species

Parornix torquillella leaf mines are identical

Identification difficulty

Adult leaf mine/fold

Recording advice

Only tenanted leaf-mines can be recorded.  Photographs must show the mine on the leaf and the larva, show clearly the colour of front (thoracic) legs

Habitat

Various habitats especially where Blackthorn is present.

When to see it

There are two generations, flying in May and again in August.

UK Status

Distributed in the southern half of England and Wales, ranging northwards to Yorkshire. 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
15.032 BF308

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

No additional images available for this species.

All NatureSpot records