Discover
Identify
Record
Phyllonorycter ulmifoliella
Red Birch Midget
Wingspan 7 to 9 mm. Similar to other members of the family. The wings are brown with white markings edged in black.
Leafmine occurs on Birch. http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/P.ulmifoliella.htm
This species can be found almost anywhere where the foodplant, Birch (Betula) is present.
There are two generations with adults flying in May and again in August.
As a larva, the species forms a blotch mine on the underside of a Birch leaf, often quite small, but puckering the leaf noticeably. The larvae are present in July, and more commonly in September and October.
Widespread and fairly common throughout the British Isles. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
It appears to be uncommon in Leicestershire and Rutland, where there are few records. L&R Moth Group status = D (rare or rarely recorded).
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
Enter a town or village to see local records
MAP KEY:
Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015
UK Map
Species profile
- Common names
- Red Birch Midget
- Species group:
- Moths
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
- Order:
- Lepidoptera
- Family:
- Gracillariidae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 46
- First record:
- 26/10/2013 (Russell, Adrian)
- Last record:
- 21/10/2023 (Calow, Graham)
Total records by month
% of records within its species group
10km squares with records
The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.
In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.