2022 Annual Report for: Gracillariidae / Phyllocnistinae

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is taken from the main Hantsmoths website, and it is possible that some information on abundance and occurrence can get out of date, as it is impossible to keep up with all changes; however it should give a good introduction to each species.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.

15.090 [B&F: 0367] Phyllocnistis saligna (Zeller, 1839) - Local

Local in fens, marshes, river-banks and other damp areas throughout southern England. In Hampshire known only from a handful of sites, including Fleet, Greywell Moors, Southsea and Leckford, but perhaps under-recorded. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight to date. Wingspan 6-7 mm. More frequently recorded in the larval stage, when the mines are fairly easy to find where they are present; the imago can be separated from P. ramulicola only by dissection of the genitalia. Larva mines leaves of Purple Willow and Crack Willow.

Records prior to 2022

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
11492019002021
12401319832020

2022 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
1151810
12331

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC11: Nursling Old Gravel Pit, mine, two, on Salix fragilis, 28 Jun (JClx); Warsash*, vacated mine, 10, 10+ mines, 17 Sep (DPH); Southampton, mine, present, 26 Aug (GSD); Funtley, one, 13 Jul (TDC); Stubbington, mine, five, 5 mines, 16 Oct (DPH);

VC12: Fleet Pond, one, field observation, netted at dusk in wet heath, 10 Sep (MHals); Blackwater, one, gen det, 13 Jul (BGD); Farnborough, one, 11 Jul (KBW)

15.091 [B&F: 0367a] Phyllocnistis ramulicola Langmaid & Corley, 2007 - Nationally Scarce A

Nationally scarce (Na) in damp woodland in southern England. First discovered in 2006 as new to science in Havant Thicket, Hampshire, subsequently found more widely in Hampshire and adjacent counties. In 2007, found to be widespread, and hence likely to have been a long-term, previously undiscovered resident. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight to date. Wingspan 6-7 mm. More frequently recorded in the larval stage, when the mines are fairly easy to find where they are present; the imago can be separated from P. saligna only by dissection of the genitalia. Larva mines stems of Grey Willow, Goat Willow and Eared Willow. Mine very similar to P. saligna, which mines only Purple Willow and Crack Willow.

Records prior to 2022

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
11602020062019
1281220072020

2022 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
11144

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

No Adult records to show.

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC11: Havant Thicket, mine, four, 04 Nov (AMD)

15.092 [B&F: 0368] Phyllocnistis unipunctella (Stephens, 1834) - Common

Common in woodland, areas with scattered trees and gardens throughout much of southern England and southern Wales, with records north to Cheshire. Probably under-recorded in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight, where the extent of known records correlate with those areas in which the recording effort is concentrated. Wingspan 7-8 mm. Comes readily to light, the second generation often overwinters in thatch or hayricks (MBGBI Vol 2). Larva mines leaves of Black Poplar and Lombardy Poplar.

Records prior to 2022

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
10472019752021
1158298319802021
12291319822020

2022 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
10331
1114223
12111

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC10: Totland, one, 25 Jul; one, 29 Jul; one, 30 Jul (RTer);

VC11: Nursling, vacated mine, present, one mine , 15 Jul (JClx); Stubbington, mine, two, two mines, one tenanted, one vacated, 05 Jun; mine, one, 2 mines, one tenanted, 06 Jul (DPH); Portchester, one, 18 Jul (DH-J); Portsmouth, two, 09 Jun; three, 17 Jul; three, 18 Jul; two, 22 Jul; one, 23 Jul; two, 29 Jul; two, 03 Aug; one, 07 Aug; one, 21 Aug (IRT); Hurn, one, 12 Aug (MJef);

VC12: Blackwater, one, 14 Aug (BGD)

15.093 [B&F: 0369] Phyllocnistis xenia Hering, 1936 - Nationally Scarce B

Nationally scarce (Nb) along river banks and in damp woodland. First discovered in eastern Kent in 1974, subsequently rapidly spreading throughout south-eastern England. First recorded on the Isle of Wight in 2002, and in Hampshire in the following year; mines are locally common on White and Grey Poplar in the Portsmouth area and on Hayling Island. Wingspan 6-7 mm.

Records prior to 2022

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
10332820022020
11912020002021
121020212021

2022 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
101211
11101510
12111

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC10: Totland, mine, present, on Populus alba leaves, 29 Sep; Freshwater Bay, mine, present, snail type upper surface mines on Populus alba leaves, 17 Sep (PBar); Afton Marsh, mine, present, leaf mines on White Poplar, 17 Jun; one, field observation, eclosed today from pupa collected on 17 June, 20 Jun; Freshwater Causeway, mine, present, mines in White Poplar on recycling centre access road, 26 Jul (IOu); Yarmouth, mine, present, many mines on the upper surface of Populus alba leaves, 11 Sep (PBar); Godshill*, mine, present, mines in Populus alba on edge of Smithy car park at SZ 5297 8181, 24 Sep; Appley Steps*, mine, present, mines in White Poplar, 23 Jul; Shanklin *, mine, present, mine on Populus alba behind railing on East Cliff Promenade, 02 Aug; Sandown, mine, present, mine in Populus alba, 30 Jul (IOu); Foreland, mine, present, on leaves of Populus alba, 20 Sep (PBar); Appley Park, mine, present, mine in Populus alba, 06 Aug (IOu);

VC11: Nursling, vacated mine, present, few mines on White Poplar , 13 Jul; Eling, vacated mine, present, several mines on White Poplar , 03 Nov; Nursling, mine, present, several mines on White Poplar , 03 Jul; Tanglewood Pond, Rownhams, vacated mine, present, few mines on Populus x cansecens , 21 Sep (JClx); Titchfield Common: Kites Croft LNR, vacated mine, three, 3 mines, 13 Jul; vacated mine, present, 24 Aug; Stubbington Recreation Ground, vacated mine, 10, 10 mines, 31 Jul (DPH); Fareham, vacated mine, one, mine on Populus canescens on the corner of the recreation field, 14 Jun (RJD); Hurn, one, 21 Jul; Hengistbury Head, mine, present, many mines on White Poplar regrowth, 20 Sep (MJef);

VC12: Blackwater, one, 11 Jul (BGD)