Rare Lyon alive and well in East Kent: Lyonetia prunifoliella

Been on tenterhooks all week, fingers crossed that this moth would emerge...

But rewinding a week or so, just beyond my garden I found an unusual mine on Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) whilst I was actually collecting Parornix mines to rear.  On rechecking the pot, the typical Lyonetia pupa hammock could be seen fastened to the sides.

All things pointed to one moth, but I wanted to be 100%.  As the pupa developed, the chevron like markings on the forewing could clearly be seen, so far so good.

And lo and behold the male emerged 16th September, confirming the existence of Lyonetia prunifoliella in East Kent.

Early stages: Chrysoesthia species

Chrysoesthia drurella and C. sexguttella mines on Chenopodium seem particularly plentiful this autumn, so worth checking for.

I find the mines in various locations - gardens, rough ground, urban settings - so keep an eye out wherever you see the foodplant.

Chrysoesthia drurella

Chrysoesthia sexguttella

Back with a bang; great start to peak miner season

It has been far too long since my last post but now back on the blog, just in time for peak Lep miner season.

Had a very productive weekend in East Kent with over 65 species of Lep miner, a great start to the autumn miner season.

This included no less than EIGHT Parornix species:

P. betulae

P. carpinella

P. devoniella

P. fagivora

P. finitimella
P. scoticella
P. torquilella
P. anglicella

Pine-ing for this one

Miners on Pinus aren't always easy but are certainly well worth the effort.

Reared this Cedestis subfasciella from mine found at Telegraph Farm, East Kent.

Purple patch - in miniature

These diminutive guys really do put the micro into micromoth.

Over recent days the Eriocrania species I collected as mines 10 months ago have begun to emerge and they are well worth a little rearing effort:

Eriocrania cicatricella ex mine on Birch

Eriocrania semipurpurella ex mine on Birch


The mines of the various Eriocraniidae will start to appear over the next few weeks (some species earlier than others of course) and I certainly recommend a spot of mine hunting and even a bit of rearing through, they're not that difficult, you just have a long time to wait.

Early stages: Hypericum miners

These mines on Hypericum are still around in profusion at the moment: Eucalybites auroguttella and Ectoedemia septembrella


Eucalybites auroguttella



Ectoedemia septembrella

Early stages: Rowan leaf miners

Rowan is host to a number of Lepidopteran leaf miners, some of which are illustrated here.

Stigmella sorbi


Stigmella nylandriella


Stigmella magdalenae

Phyllonorycter sorbi