34.004 [B&F: 0898] Limnaecia phragmitella Stainton, 1851 - Common

Common in fens, marshes and freshwater margins throughout the British Isles, but not in northern Scotland. Fairly widely distributed across Hampshire but perhaps under-recorded, and decidedly uncommon on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 16-22 mm. Rather difficult to assign to a family, perhaps, but once known, the species is easy enough to identify. Larva feeds within flowering spikes of Bulrush and Lesser Bulrush.

Record Details

VC10: Shippards Chine, Compton Bay, larva, 10, field obs., found within the dead stem of Typha latifolia (Bulrush) at the reservoir, 22 Jun (IOu);

VC11: Mottisfont, one, 20 Jul (TSto); Fishlake Meadows, one, 12 Aug (NRJ); Swaythling, Southampton, one, 30 Jul (MEdg); Itchen Valley CP, one, 19 Jul (CTha); Stubbington, one, 23 Jul (DPH); Fareham, one, 13 Aug (ADT); Merritown Heath, one, 29 Jun (DFoo); Christchurch: Cross Way, one, 23 Jul (LPyk); Sway, one, 22 Jul (SKee);

VC12: Magdalen Hill Down NR, one, 23 Jun (AMD); Cheriton, one, 30 Jul (DAS); Inhams Copse, Pamber, one, 31 Jul (GJD); Rye Common, larva, three, field obs., in Typha seedhead, 23 Mar (AMD);

34.005 [B&F: 0894] Cosmopterix zieglerella (Hübner, [1810]) - Nationally Scarce B

Nationally scarce (Nb) in hedgerows in south-eastern England, from Kent northwards to Norfolk and westwards to Berkshire. In Hampshire first reported in 2003, since when leaf mines have been found in scattered locations across the north and centre, and first reported from the Isle of Wight in 2014. Wingspan 8.5-10.5 mm. Very similar to C. schmidiella, which is now believed to be extinct in the British Isles, and C. orichalcea, which has a different arrangement of metallic markings in the basal area of the wing. Larva mines leaves of Hop, over-wintering in a cocoon.

Update: Status review, December 2019.

Record Details

VC10: Afton Marsh, present, field obs., 28 Jun (SDav);

VC12: Shortheath Common, Oakhanger, mine, present, 20 Aug (AMD,RCla)

34.008 [B&F: 0896a] Cosmopterix scribaiella Zeller, 1850 - Nationally Scarce A

Nationally scarce (Na) and restricted in Britain to alder carr and reed-beds in Hampshire and neighbouring counties. Almost exclusively coastal in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 10-11 mm. Differs from the less frequent C. zieglerella, C. schmidiella and C. orichalcea by the basal area on the forewing with four narrow longitudinal white lines (MBGBI Vol 4 part 1). Larva mines leaves of Common Reed.

Record Details

VC11: Milton Common, mine, present, 03 Oct (AMD)

34.009 [B&F: 0896b] Cosmopterix pulchrimella Chambers, 1875 - Nationally Scarce A

Nationally scarce (Na) wherever the foodplant is found, around farm buildings, on old walls and in urban areas from Hampshire to the Isles of Scilly. First recorded in Britain at Walditch, Dorset on 13 October 2001, thereafter rapidly colonising southern England. Previously known from the Channel Islands and southern Europe, from where the British population is presumed to have originated, most likely arriving in this country as immigrants. In Hampshire recorded for the first time in 2007 at Portchester Castle, and on the Isle of Wight from several sites from 2006 onwards; it has been expanding in range since and was reported new for North Hampshire in 2022. Wingspan 6.5-9 mm. Larva mines leaves of Pellitory-of-the-wall, preferring plants growing in the shade.

Record Details

VC10: Freshwater Bay, mine, 10, mines in Pellitory-of-the-wall, 30 Sep (SDav); Ventnor, one, field obs., also lots of lf-mines on Pellitory-of-the-Wall., 10 Jun (MGT); Bonchurch, larval feeding signs, present, field obs., on Parietaria judaica., 24 Jun (PBard); Sandown, mine, one, several mines and pupae in a sample of Pellitory-of-the-wall collected form the edge of the car park. Two eclosed 21 January, 16 Jan (IOu);

VC11: Ashurst, NF, present, field obs., adults and mines, Pellitory-of-the-wall. , 29 Jul (JOug); Highfield, southampton, 10, field obs., 05 Aug (TDC); Bevois Valley, Southampton, present, 27 Jul; present, 29 Jul (MCrei); #VALUE!Winchester, one, field obs., on pellitory-of-the wall. , 21 Jun (TDC); Fareham, one, 30 Aug (ADT); Portchester Castle, mine, present, 03 Nov (AMD); Portchester, one, 31 Aug (DH-J); Waterlooville, one, 30 Dec (DWhe); Bournemouth, one, 06 Aug (WSoa, SMorr); Christchurch, one, 24 Oct (APard); Barton on Sea, vacated mine, 10, 30 Aug (SKee); Keyhaven, mine, 100, mines frequent on Pellitory of the Wall. , 08 Nov (WLan); Lymington, vacated mine, 50, 15 Dec (SKee);

VC12: Farnborough, one, 13 Aug (KBW)