Tischeria ekebladella

Alternative names
Oak Blotch-miner
Oak Carl
Description

Wingspan 8 to11 mm. The adult moth is golden brown and has darker tips to the forewings.

Similar Species

The adult moth is difficult to distinguish from Small Carl, Tischeria dodonaea

Identification difficulty

Adult Leafmine

ID guidance

Leafmine occurs on Oak (and sometimes on Sweet Chestnut). http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/T.ekebladella.htm

Habitat

Found in deciduous woodland.

When to see it

It flies in May and June.

Life History

The larva generally feeds on the leaves of oak or sweet chestnut forming distinctive white mines on the upperside. The larvae overwinter inside a circular chamber in the mine, and then pupate inside this chamber in late spring. The larval stages occur from September and October.

UK Status

Fairly common in suitable habitat throughout much of Britain.  In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.

VC55 Status

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Reference
10.001 BF123

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Oak Carl
Species group:
Moths
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Tischeriidae
Records on NatureSpot:
181
First record:
13/06/2011 (Skevington, Mark)
Last record:
05/11/2023 (Smith, Peter)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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