Food Plant: Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn)

Mine: June, possibly also August-September

Notes: This is only known from Dungeness in Kent, feeding on the prostrate form of Prunus spinosa. The larval stages are described for the first time (Beavan, Heckford & Langdon (2026)). The larvae form upwardly spun leaves in later instars, which distinguish them from the downwardly spun leaves of P.finitimella and P.torquillella.The larva constructs a white flat silken spinning on the upper surface of a leaf, which extends throughout the leaf but not to its base. The silk then contracts and the leaf forms a tube or pod (as shown in top photo). Frass accumulates at the apex of this spinning, as the larva feeds on the upper parenchyma, turning the leaf brown where it has been feeding. The larva contructs a silken cocoon, in which it pupates. It is possible that the larva mines leaves in early instars, but this needs further investgation. The bottom photo shows the spinnings of Epiphyas postvittana on the typical form of P.spinosa where a pod is formed but merely by sticking the leaf edges together, rather than having a silk lining as with P.atripaplella..

Data: top photo 23.vii.2023, Dungeness, Kent, VC15; bottom photo 30.vi.2025, Littlestone, Kent, VC15

Image:© S.D. Beavan & R.J. Heckford