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.

Eriocrania extravaganza

The appearance of many of the Eriocrania leaf mines has been somewhat delayed this year but I finally managed to catch up with several of these over the last couple of days, the first three all on Birch, the last one on Oak:

Eriocrania sangii




Eriocrania cicatricella



Eriocrania salopiella



Eriocrania subpurpurella

Bonsai banzai bonanza

Had an early evening trip to Bonsai Bank and Denge Woods in the Kent Downs yesterday.  A stunning display of Lady Orchids and Twayblades and of course of micro moths (inc. leaf miners).

Denge Woods and Bonsai Bank, sweep netting, 23 May 2012 (5:15 - 7:15 pm)

Pyrausta nigrata - 6


Mompha raschkiella - 1


Micropterix calthella - 45+


Epinotia subocellana




Aethes tesserana




Eucosma aspidiscana


Nematopogon swammerdamella
Eriocrania sangii - 3 mines

E. cicatricella - 3 larva in single mine
E. salopiella

Dave