Morley’s Final Catalogue: Not listed.

Recent Status: First recorded in Suffolk during 2015 in Ipswich. It has established and been found elsewhere in Suffolk.

Life Style: A single or possibly double brooded species that can be found throughout the year. They hibernate. The larvae feed on leaves of Fraxinus excelsior or Ligustrum vulgare. They pupate in the final habitation of the larva.

Identification: Caloptilia species stand erect on their front legs at rest. This species is a white or slightly tinged ochre species ornate with dark grey specks, spots and bands. In particular there is a narrow band from the dorsum angled to the rear not meeting the costa and a wider parallel one from the costa not meeting the dorsum. There is then a vague inverted ‘V’ on the costa beyond. The speckling and spotting overall however can sometimes give the appearance of a criss-cross patterned wing. The legs are similarly ornate. There can possibly confusion with a pale C. populetorum but that species has two distinct black spots just above the dorsum it could also be confused with a poorly marked Gracillaria syringella.
The larvae mine from the upper surface of a leaf where the ovum was laid. The mining causes the leaf to fold upwards and the larvae then exit and neatly fold the leaf over to feed. They move to a second leaf edge that is folded over where they then pupate in a cocoon. Before pupation an exit hole is cut and covered with silk. More Info

	Mine: Either the leaf or a good photograph required

Recorded in 13 (22%) of 58 10k Squares. First Recorded in 2015. Last Recorded in 2024. Additional Stats

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