Food Plant: Carpinus (Hornbeam), Corylus (Hazel)

Egg: Underside of leaf

Mine: end of June - July, September - November

Notes: A narrow gallery, tending to follow veins of leaf. The early part with linear frass. The most reliable method of identification for this species is the egg position, S.floslactella lays an egg always on underside in a vein axil whereas S.microtheriella lays it often on or near a vein, but not in the axil. The larva is a dull yellow, head pale brown. The larvae of S.microtheriella fit tightly in the mine and feed venter upwards, whereas S floslactella has empty margins next to the larva and it feeds dorsum up.The larva is yellow, head pale brown.

Data: 01.xi.2013, Brampton Wood, Huntingdonshire, VC31

Image:© Barry Dickerson