Eriocrania salopiella

Wingspan about 10 mm. The adults are golden, marked with purplish, with a distinct pale tornal triangular spot, and a smaller costal spot. The head is covered with yellowish hairs.

Adult Leafmine with larva

Adult: Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required and the specimen should be examined with a microscope. In the comments box, state the key or ID method used and describe the size and identifying characters.

Leafmine and larva: Unless identified by a recognised expert, photos are required showing the mine (preferably backlit to show frass) and the larva which should be removed from the mine for the purpose of photography.

Areas where Birch occurs.

Single-brooded, flying mainly during April and May.

The larvae mine the leaves of birch Betula during May and June. The species is the latest of the birch-feeders with the exception of Eriocrania sparrmannella, which feeds mainly in July and August. The Eriocrania salopiella leafmine begins as a narrow gallery in the centre of the leaf, turning into an elongate blotch and then a larger blotch encompassing the leaf margin.

Well distributed across mainland Britain, but fairly localised, this species is probably overlooked. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.

Rarely recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland, though possibly overlooked.

http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/E.salopiella.htm