15.004 BF282 - Gracillariidae - Gracillariinae - Caloptillia elongella - Alder Stilt

15.004 BF282 - Gracillariidae - Gracillariinae - Caloptilia elongella - Alder Stilt - (Linnaeus, 1761)

Adult Micro: CAT 4 - Gen. Det. Required -

Leaf-miner: CAT L - The leaf or a Photo required -

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- click for Specific Verification Guidelines

- Rare / Uncommon / Scarce - Leaf Miner

Taxonomy: Micro >> Gracillariidae

Other Name/s: Pale Red Slender

ID Difficulty: Red

- difficult to identify - detailed examination required, often a Gen Det and/or specimen and quality photographs are required.
Confusion Species: Caloptilia betulicola (Birch Stilt); Caloptilia semifascia (Maple Stilt); Caloptilia hemidactylella (Scarce Maple Stilt)

ID pointers: Like other Caloptilia species it has a distinctive resting posture. Often a plain orange-brown colour to the elongated forewing, sometimes with speckling in the basal half and a pale costal blotch. Plain cilia

Distribution: (Last record: 10/01/2023 at Midway ) - Despite this species being common across Britain, it appears to be an uncommon species in the recording area, with only a handful of records between 2016 -2024; possibly under-recorded due to Gen Det requirements

Flight Period: June / September / - June and September after which they hibernate reappearing in the spring

Mine Period: May / July / - Larvae feed by mining the leaves of Alder at first then into a folded or rolled leaf

Moth Activity: Cathemeral - occasionally attracted to light

*** Last updated on 9 March 2025 by RP ***

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Wingspan: 14-16mm

Food Plant: Alder

Last Recorded Date: 10/01/2023

Last Recorded By: Graham Finch - leaf mine

Last Recorded General Area: Midway

No First Date Information Recorded

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