02.001 [B&F: 0006] Dyseriocrania subpurpurella (Haworth, 1828) - Common

Common in oak woodland throughout the British Isles, excluding northern Scotland. Well distributed and by far the most common Eriocrania: the overwhelming majority of individuals in garden light traps turn out to be this species. It can be abundant wherever there are oak trees. Wingspan 9-14 mm; a diurnal species which is also attracted to light, in dull weather it rests on the trunks and branches of oak trees. The metallic gold forewing is speckled with minute purple or blue spots. Larva mines leaves of Oak, over-wintering as a pupa.

Record Details

VC10: Shanklin, two, 31 Mar; 21, 05 Apr; two, 11 Apr (IOu);

VC11: Burley New Inclosure, NF, mine, one, tenanted, on Oak. , 08 May (DPH); Wilverley Inclosure, NF, vacated mine, one, 06 May (SKee); Romsey, one, 19 Mar; three, 31 Mar; one, 03 Apr; 12, 05 Apr; 15, 06 Apr; 12, 07 Apr; eight, 10 Apr; nine, 12 Apr; five, 13 Apr; three, 14 Apr (NRJ); Allbrook, two, 29 Mar; two, 05 Apr; nine, 07 Apr; one, 12 Apr (SIng); Funtley, one, 05 Apr (TDC); Waterlooville, one, 17 Mar; two, 31 Mar; 10, 03 Apr; 13, 07 Apr; three, 11 Apr; two, 13 Apr; one, 30 Apr; one, 07 May (DWhe); West Walk, three, 12 Apr (F.M.G.); Hengistbury Head, one, 05 Apr (MJef); Wootton Coppice Inclosure, NF, vacated mine, three, 18 May; Sway, one, 05 Apr; two, 11 Apr; vacated mine, eight, 11 May (SKee);

VC12: Chilbolton, one, 06 Apr; seven, 07 Apr; one, 30 Apr; Harewood Forest, one, 18 Apr; Goodworth Clatford, one, 18 Apr (GCE); Magdalen Hill Down NR, one, 11 Apr (AMD); Great Haughurst Copse, Axmansford, 45, 12 Apr (ACB); Inhams Copse, Pamber, one, 11 Apr (GJD); Noar Hill HIWWT NR, one, field obs., 08 Apr (DAS); Whitehill, Bordon, one, 14 Apr (ASto); Blacknest, Binstead, four, 13 Apr (MAng); Broxhead Common, vacated mine, present, several, 24 May (AMD); Hammer Vale, Woolmer, two, 05 Apr; four, 07 Apr; two, field obs., 13 Apr; one, 30 Apr (ASwa); Farnborough, one, 05 Apr (MThmp);

02.003 [B&F: 0008] Eriocrania unimaculella (Zetterstedt, 1839) - Local

Local in birch woodland throughout most of Britain. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight local and evidently rather uncommon amongst birch, most frequently in thr south and north-east of Hampshire. Wingspan 9-11 mm. This species is most easily distinguished from other Eriocrania by the conspicuous silvery tornal spot, which in most other species is pale golden (MBGBI Vol 1). Larva mines leaves of Birch, over-wintering as a pupa.

Record Details

VC11: Burley, NF, mine, one, tenanted, on Birch. , 08 May (DPH); Wilverley Inclosure, NF, mine, one, conf MJW, 06 May (SKee); Whiteley, mine, 23, tenanted mines. , 21 Apr (DPH)

02.006 [B&F: 0011] Eriocrania cicatricella (Zetterstedt, 1839) - Local

Local in birch woodland throughout Britain. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight widely distributed away from.the central downs, but nowhere common. Wingspan 9-13 mm. Day-flying. Very similar to E. chrysolepidella and only reliably separable by dissection of the genitalia. Larva mines leaves of Birch, over-wintering as a pupa.

Record Details

VC11: Whiteley, mine, 14, tenanted mines. , 21 Apr (DPH); Hengistbury Head, mine, present, numerous. , 19 Apr (MJef)

Botley Wood
20/04/2024
field observation - mine
Dan Houghton
Photo © Dan Houghton

Botley Wood
20/04/2024
field observation - mine
Dan Houghton
Photo © Dan Houghton

Botley Wood
20/04/2024
field observation - mines
Dan Houghton
Photo © Dan Houghton

Botley Wood
20/04/2024
field observation - mine
Dan Houghton
Photo © Dan Houghton

02.007 [B&F: 0013] Eriocrania semipurpurella (Stephens, 1835) - Common

Common in birch woodland throughout the British Isles. Fairly widely distributed in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight, where it is the most common of the six birch feeding Eriocrania species. Wingspan 9-14 mm. Day-flying. Very similar to E. sangii, from which separated only by dissection of the genitalia. Larva mines leaves of Birch, over-wintering as a pupa.

Record Details

VC11: Holmsley Inclosure, NF, mine, six, 23 Apr; Lucy Hill, NF, mine, 12, 23 Apr (SKee det. ABan); Whiteley, mine, six, tenanted mines. , 21 Apr (DPH)

02.008 [B&F: 0012] Eriocrania sangii (Wood, 1891) - Local

Local in birch woodland throughout much of Britain. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight widely distributed, but not particularly common. Wingspan 9-14 mm. Day-flying. Can only be separated from E. semipurpurella by dissection of the genitalia. Larva mines leaves of Birch, over-wintering as a pupa.

Record Details

VC11: Burley, NF, mine, one, tenanted, on Birch. , 08 May; mine, two, tenanted, on Birch. , 08 May (DPH); Wilverley Inclosure, NF, mine, one, conf MJW, 06 May; Pignal Inclosure, NF, mine, 12, conf MJW, 25 Apr (SKee); Whiteley, mine, four, tenanted mines. , 21 Apr (DPH)