2022 Annual Report for: Bucculatricidae / Bucculatricinae

For species seen in 2022 that had less than or equal to 100 records, full details are included; for more common species, the earliest, latest and highest count by vice-county are shown. The narrative for each species is taken from the main Hantsmoths website, and it is possible that some information on abundance and occurrence can get out of date, as it is impossible to keep up with all changes; however it should give a good introduction to each species. The tables in each species account summarise the previous status, and that for the current year.

For the maps, all records prior to 2022 are shown by a blue dot (the larger the dot, the more recent), with the current year's records shown in red. As previous records are superimposed on any report for 2022, new sites have greater emphasis (i.e. will show as 'more red').

In the species accounts, an asterisk next to a location indicates a new 10km square record; earliest ever dates are highlighted in orange, and latest ever in red. Initials in the species accounts refer to the recorders listed here. Please get in touch if you identify any omissions or errors, in particular if you have records that have yet to be submitted. Details of how to submit records can be found here.

14.002 [B&F: 0266] Bucculatrix nigricomella (Zeller, 1839) - Local

Local on embankments, waste ground and rough grassland throughout the British Isles. In Hampshire mainly confined to the coast, east of Southampton, very uncommon elsewhere. Recorded on the Isle of Wight for the first time at Freshwater in 2010. Wingspan 7-8 mm. Flies in the late afternoon and early morning. Distinguished from other Bucculatrix by dark metallic bronze ground colour, with diffused whitish spots on dorsum at one-half and three-quarters and two similar spots on costa slightly beyond, and white eye-caps (MBGBI Vol 2). Larva mines leaves of Ox-eye Daisy.

Records prior to 2022

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
10101020102021
1111912319802021
12547219842021

2022 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
10221
11321
12441

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC10: Plaish, Carisbrooke*, one, 21 Jul (KRyl); Wootton Bridge, one, 18 May (BJon);

VC11: Franchises Wood, NF, present, 08 Jul (RBW); Allbrook, one, 10 May (SIng); Portsmouth, one, 09 May (IRT);

VC12: Basingstoke, one, 19 Jul; one, 29 Jul (MJW); Crabtree Plantation, Basingstoke, one, swept, 21 May; Yateley Common, one, 14 May (BGD)

14.003 [B&F: 0267] Bucculatrix maritima Stainton, 1851 - Nationally Scarce B

Nationally scarce (Nb) in saltmarshes throughout much of England and Wales, predominantly coastal. In Hampshire virtually restricted to the coast in the south-east of the county (it is regularly reported from the Southsea area), with just a handful of records on the Isle of Wight, predominantly along the north-west coast. The absence of records along the New Forest coast is surprising and fieldwork there could be rewarded. Wingspan 8-9 mm. Larva mines leaves of Sea Aster.

Records prior to 2022

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
108018502008
11838719742019

2022 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
10100
11122

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC10: St. Helens Millpond, mine, present, vacated mines in Aster tripolium (Sea Aster), 24 Aug (IOu);

VC11: Gilkicker Point, vacated mine, two, on sea aster, 20 Sep (DWal)

14.006 [B&F: 0270] Bucculatrix frangutella (Goeze, 1783) - Local

Local in fens, open woodland and hedgerows throughout much of south-eastern England, and in Yorkshire, Cumbria and on the Burren. In Hampshire it is found in boggy areas, where the foodplant is Alder Buckthorn, and on the chalk, where the larva is associated with Buckthorn. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight since 1975. Wingspan 7-8 mm. Larva mines leaves of Buckthorn and Alder Buckthorn, over-wintering as a pupa.

Records prior to 2022

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
103119002018
1112219619742021
121076719752021

2022 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
1165930
12111

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC11: Ocknell Plain, NF, vacated mine, present, 30 Sep (AMD); Botley Wood, vacated mine, eight, 8 mines, 06 Aug; vacated mine, 30, 30+ mines, 19 Sep (DPH); vacated mine, 10, 10+ vacated mines on Frangula alnus. Area around Toby's Pond, 19 Sep; vacated mine, one, one vacated mine on Frangula alnus, 23 Sep (RJD); Portsdown Hill, mine, 10, 10 mines on Buckthorn, 01 Aug (DPH);

VC12: Yateley Common, one, swept, 07 Jun (BGD)

14.007 [B&F: 0271] Bucculatrix albedinella (Zeller, 1839) - Local

Local in hedgerows and woodland margins throughout much of southern England, with records north to Yorkshire. In Hampshire virtually restricted to the south-east, where it remains reasonably numerous around the three harbours, but very rarely recorded in north of the county and on the Isle of Wight; perhaps overlooked. Wingspan 8-9 mm. Larva mines leaves of English Elm and Small-leaved Elm, over-wintering as a pupa.

Records prior to 2022

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
105019772013
11633119322021
124220022011

2022 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
11563

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC11: Hook Spit, vacated mine, one, on elm, by the base of Hook Spit, 11 Sep; Hook with Warsash, vacated mine, present, 11 Sep; vacated mine, three, 3 mines on same leaf, 20 Oct; Brownwich, vacated mine, one, 02 Oct; Fareham, vacated mine, one, 09 Nov (DPH)

14.008 [B&F: 0272] Bucculatrix cidarella (Zeller, 1839) - Local

Local throughout the British Isles on Alder, as far north as Inverness-shire, and on bog-myrtle on Anglesey and Borth Bog in north-west Wales, Co. Kerry in Ireland and Arne NNR in Dorset. In Hampshire very local, mainly in the south of the county, most notably at Roydon Wood, but also at Fleet and Eelmoor in the north; very infrequently recorded on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 8-9 mm. Larva mines leaves of Alder and Bog-myrtle, over-wintering as a pupa.

Records prior to 2022

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
106019771997
11574919822020
12222519982021

2022 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
12111

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC12: Fleet Pond, one, field observation, netted around Bog Myrtle, 18 Jul (MHals)

14.009 [B&F: 0273] Bucculatrix thoracella (Thunberg, 1794) - Common

Common in ancient woodland, woodland rides, parks and gardens throughout much of southern England and Wales, north to the Humber. The first confirmed record of this species in Hampshire was in Winchester in 1976, since when the species has been found in other localities in north Hampshire, extending its range and now reasonably common throughout the county and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 6-8 mm. Larva mines leaves of Small-leaved Lime and Common Lime, over-wintering as a pupa.

Records prior to 2022

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
10371820032019
1125921819782021
12362820012021

2022 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
11841
1214246

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC11: Nursling Old Gravel Pit, vacated mine, present, many mines , 11 Oct; Cromarty Road,Lordshill, vacated mine, present, many mines , 17 Oct (JClx); Stanbrige Earls, mine, present, lime, 11 Oct (JRM det. LEva); Romsey, one, 31 Jul (NRJ); Dibden Purlieu, one, 13 Aug (RAC); Bevois Valley, Southampton, present, 18 Jul (MCre); Southampton, one, 13 Aug (MGP); Catisfield, one, 14 Aug (ALR);

VC12: Blackwater, one, field observation, 12 Apr; one, field observation, 30 Apr; one, field observation, 16 May; two, 11 Jul; one, 13 Jul; six, 18 Jul; one, swept, 30 Jul; one, 01 Aug; one, 02 Aug; two, 09 Aug; one, 14 Aug (BGD); Farnborough, three, 30 Jul; one, 02 Aug; two, 07 Aug (KBW)

14.010 [B&F: 0274] Bucculatrix ulmella Zeller, 1848 - Common

Common where there are mature oak trees, throughout much of Britain, north to central Scotland. Widespread in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 7-8 mm. One of the more distinctive Bucculatrix species. Larva mines leaves of Oak, over-wintering as a pupa.

Records prior to 2022

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
10513619002021
1139132919682021
121148919762021

2022 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
10441
1113122
1217213

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC10: Totland, one, male gen.det, 23 Jul; one, male gen.det, 25 Jul (RTer); Shanklin, one, 15 Aug; one, 23 Aug (IOu);

VC11: Franchises Wood, NF, present, 18 Jul (RBW); Totton, one, 31 Jul; two, 02 Aug (CNB); one, 11 Jul; one, 14 Jul; one, 19 Jul; one, 09 Aug (LHan); Needs Ore NNR, one, 20 Aug (CNB); Brownwich cliffs, one, 29 Jul (MLO, DWal & KJW det. RJD); Catisfield, one, 14 Aug (ALR); Stubbington, vacated mine, present, 10 Oct (DPH); Pennington, one, 13 Aug (RFC); Needs Ore NNR, one, 25 Jul (CNB);

VC12: Hammer Vale, Woolmer, one, 19 Jul; one, 11 Aug; one, 13 Aug; one, 19 Aug (ASwa); Fleet Pond, one, 14 Aug (MHals); Yateley Common, one, 27 May; Blackwater, two, 11 Jul; one, 12 Jul; three, 13 Jul; one, 16 Jul; one, 18 Jul; one, 19 Jul; two, 30 Jul; one, 01 Aug; one, 09 Aug; one, 14 Aug (BGD); Farnborough, one, 18 Jul (KBW)

14.011 [B&F: 0274a] Bucculatrix ulmifoliae Hering, 1931 - Adventive

Naturalised, through accidental introduction. First discovered in Britain in October 2006, when unidentified mines were found in a hybrid Elm (Sapporo 'Autumn Gold') at a park in Farnham, Surrey. When bred through, these proved to be B. ulmifoliae, a species new to Britain, formerly considered conspecific with B. albedinella. Not recorded in Hampshire or on the Isle of Wight to date. Wingspan 8-9 mm. Larva mines leaves of Elm, over-wintering as a pupa.

Records prior to 2022

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record

2022 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
12111

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

No Adult records to show.

Records by week (larval)

No Larval records to show.

Record Details

VC12: New Vice-county Record: Minley Wood*, mine, one, on Ulmus glabra, 20 Sep (BGD)

14.012 [B&F: 0275] Bucculatrix bechsteinella (Bechstein & Scharfenberg, 1805) - Local

Local in scrub, hedgerows and woodland edges throughout much of England and southern Scotland. Widespread in Hampshire, although apparently absent from the New Forest in recent years, and only known from a handful of sites on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 7-9 mm. Flies in evening sunshine. One of the less distinctive Bucculatrix species, and probably under-recorded. Larva mines leaves of Hawthorn, Pear, Apple, Rowan and Wild Service-tree, over-wintering as a pupa.

Records prior to 2022

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
104119262005
11696219742020
12402219712021

2022 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
11541
1256736

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC11: Marchwood*, one, 02 Aug; Lee, one, 16 Jul (CTha); Botley Wood, vacated mine, one, vacated mine and window feeding on hawthorn, 14 Aug; mine, present, 14 Aug (DPH); Hurn*, one, confirmed by P Sterling, 21 Jul (MJef);

VC12: Crabtree Plantation, Basingstoke, two, swept, 21 May; Minley Wood*, mine, 27, on Crataegus monogyna, 30 Aug; mine, 36, on Crataegus monogyna, 26 Sep (BGD); Fleet Pond*, one, 18 Jul (MHals); Blackwater*, one, 11 Jul (BGD)

14.013 [B&F: 0276] Bucculatrix demaryella (Duponchel, 1840) - Local

Local in open woodland, heathland, moorland and bogs throughout much of the British Isles. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight there are very few records of this species and, although it has been reported in the past from all three vice-counties, it is seen in any number only in Botley Wood. Wingspan 8-9 mm. Larva mines leaves of Birch, Hazel and Sweet Chestnut, over-wintering as a pupa.

Records prior to 2022

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
102119871987
119719692021

2022 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
10111
11752

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC10: Parkhurst Forest*, one, voucher, 26 May (IOu);

VC11: Botley Wood, vacated mine, one, on birch, 30 Jul; vacated mine, one, on birch, 06 Aug; mine, one, mine in birch, 09 Oct; mine, present, 06 Aug; vacated mine, present, 09 Oct; larva, two, field observation, 08 Oct; Whiteley, vacated mine, present, 30 Jul (DPH)