Nationally scarce (Nb) in woodland, marshes, river-banks and other fresh-water margins throughout much of south-eastern England north to Lincolnshire, and in Ireland on the Burren. Very rarely recorded in Hampshire, where known from just a handful of sites. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight to date. Wingspan male 4.6-5.7 mm, female 4.6-6.0 mm. Imago separated from other Rosaceae feeding Ectoedemia by the black head in both sexes, but adults not bred from mines and encountered in light traps are unlikely to be identifiable without dissection of the genitalia. Adults difficult to distinguish from other Ectoedemia species, and more frequently recorded in the larval stage, when mines are relatively easy to find where they are present. Larva mines leaves of Dewberry and Bramble, over-wintering as a pupa.

Flightime guide
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