15.084 BF362

Phyllonorycter acerifoliella

(Zeller, 1839)

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Wingspan c. 8mm.

One of three similar Acer-feeding Phyllonorycters, P. acerifoliella feeds on field maple (Acer campestre), the larva folding the tip of a leaf lobe downwards to create a distinctive and easy-to find mine.

The species is distributed over much of England, where the foodplant is natively established. It is slowly expanding northwards into areas where the tree is introduced.

The adults emerge in two generations, in May and again in August and leaf mines can be located during July and more commonly in September and October.