Local in woodland throughout much of the British Isles, although distribution poorly known owing to confusion with S. ruficapitella. First recorded in Hampshire in 1985 at Botley Wood, since when found to be sparsely distributed across much of south Hampshire, but remains very rare in north Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 6-7 mm. Very similar to S. ruficapitella and S. roborella, from which separable only by dissection of the genitalia, and more frequently recorded in the larval stage, when mines are relatively easy to find where they are present. Larva mines leaves of Oak, over-wintering as a pupa.

Flightime guide
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