Food Plant: Suaeda maritima (annual sea-blite)

Mine: July-May

Notes: Initially seeds are mined and once a case is constructed it then feeds on seeds and leaves, usually near the top of the plant. The final case is trivalved and 8-9mm long, being a pale ochreous colour (as shown), sometimes pink tinged. In October the case attaches low down on the plant or even into the mud. A local species found in saltmarshes around the high tide level.

Bradley No: 574

National Status: pRDB3

Data: 05.x.2020, River Deben saltmarsh, East Suffolk, VC25

Image:© Patrick Cook

References:
Langmaid JR, Palmer SM and Young MR (2018) A Field uide to the Smaller Moths of Great Britain and Ireland
Hering, EM (1957), Bestimmungstabellen der Blattminen von Europa
Emmet AM (1996) The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland, 3