Yorkshire Status: Local resident.

Our earliest records are of adult moths, however more recent records have been mostly of larval mines on broom. All recent records have been from the south and east of the county, and we have no record from VC65, but it may be more common than we suspect. The egg is distinctive, and is filled with frass when it is left by the larva, remaining as a black, shiny semi-globule at the start of the gallery. It is generally laid a few inches from the tip of the shoot. This distinguishes it from Leucoptera spartifoliella whose egg usually falls of. The larva heads down the twig initially before changing direction, the spaces between the ridges being stained black as the mine fills them, and as they develop, a plant with many mines can often be recognised from a distance. The yellow larva is hardly visible in the mine. Leucoptera spartifoliella lays its egg further down the stem, and the mines head upwards towards the top of the twig.

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: Local among broom.

Verification Grade Comment: Egg position essential to distinguish from Leucoptera spartifoliella

	Mine: Either the leaf or a good photograph required

Recorded in 9 (5%) of 200 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1868. Last Recorded in 2024. Additional Stats

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