15.049 BF329 – Blackthorn Leaf-miner – Phyllonorycter spinicolella – (Zeller, 1846)
Adult Micro: CAT 4 – Dissection required – 
Leaf-miner: CAT A – Recorded accepted without the leaf or a photo – Larval Case: C1 – Distinctive Species –
– click for General Verification Guidelines | – click for Specific Verification Guidelines
Leaf-miner: CAT A – Recorded accepted without the leaf or a photo – Larval Case: C1 – Distinctive Species – – click for General Verification Guidelines | – click for Specific Verification Guidelines 
– Uncertain/Unknown – Insufficient Data 
– Leaf-miner
** Identification write up required
**
– difficult to identify – detailed examination required, often a Gen Det and/or specimen and quality photographs are required.Confusion Species: Phyllonorycter cerasicolella (Cherry Leaf-miner); Phyllonorycter hostis (Cryptic Apple Leaf-miner)
ID pointers: The forewings are golden-ochreous with characteristic shining white, dark-margined wedge-shaped spots and a blackish apical dot.
Distribution: (Last record: 29 October 2025 at Markham Vale ) – Uncertain as insufficient data – Leaf Mines found in 2009 & 2023. Leaf Mine 29/10/2025 – Markham Vale.
General Comment: None Mine Period Additional: None.
Mine ID Difficulty:
– Mine cannot be identified without breeding through and then adult may need to be examined by Gen Det Prep. Mine Type/s: Blotch, Blister
Mine Feeding Method/s: Leaf Fold
Mine Comment: The mines are found on Blackthorn and sometimes Wild Plum, they narrow and arch or fold over The larva creates a distinctive “blister blotch” mine on the underside of the leaf, with strong creases arching the leaf. The mine causes the leaf to pucker or fold over strongly, and the lower epidermis remains green (unlike similar species where it turns brown). The pupa is formed within the mine in a white cocoon. Larva are yellowish with dark head capsule.
*** Last updated on 28 November 2025 by TD ***
Last Recorded Year: 2025
Last Recorded By – Mark Radford
Last Recorded General Area – Markham Vale
Selected Images:
Rose End Meadows – 16/10/2009 – Steve Orridge© / Markham Vale Oct 2025 – Mark Radford©
Image Gallery
Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 1905 - 1905) | Immatures: (between 1983 - 2025)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)
Distribution Map for Phyllonorycter spinicolella
Found 12 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 3 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 9 from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 3 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 9 from Before 2020
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Bedrock Geology ** indirectly affects moth distribution by influencing the type of habitat and food plants available in an area. In turn, this may affect the types of moths that can thrive, or where they can most likely be found.
NBN Atlas UK Distribution for – Phyllonorycter spinicolella
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Note – the NBN Atlas datasets are listed in the map below and vary in their currency (uptodateness) – however,
the map does give a general indication of the moth's distribution across the UK.
Monthly Records By Year:
Phyllonorycter spinicolella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year:
Phyllonorycter spinicolella
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Phyllonorycter spinicolella
Adult-only & Anything [Larvae, Pupae, Adult, Mines]
Shading shows moth presence between dates
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Recordings By Year: Phyllonorycter spinicolella
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Phyllonorycter spinicolella
AGR: 0% | Total % Change: 0%
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Phyllonorycter spinicolella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Phyllonorycter spinicolella
Phyllonorycter spinicolella
Flight Period chart – the grey hatched area above, which can cross one or more months, pictorially represents the best guess we have for this moth's flight periods [month/s]. The coloured lines represent the actual months seen in flight, from site observation records received between 2020-2026.
Mine Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Phyllonorycter spinicolella
Phyllonorycter spinicolella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Mine Period chart – the grey hatched area above, which can cross one or more months, pictorially represents the best guess we have for this moth's mine periods [month/s]. The coloured lines represent the actual months seen mining, from site observation records received between 2020-2026.
Records Behind the Map and Charts - Phyllonorycter spinicolella – 12 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Recorder | Source | RecordKey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hall Lane Pond | SK47H | 29/10/2025 | 1 | mine | Radford, Mark | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC46163581 |
| Moor Lsne, Sinfin | SK32U | 21/09/2025 | 3 | larva | Shervill, Andrew | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC45473973 |
| Poppy Wood | SK32S | 22/11/2023 | 1 | Mine | Finch, Graham Leonard | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35107061 |
| Thorpe, Dovedale | SK15K | 13/10/2010 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.A. Orridge;S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COTQP |
| Rose End Meadow | SK25Y | 16/10/2009 | 1 | mine | Orridge, Steve; Hind, Steve, Budworth, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC40312706 |
| Cromford | SK25Y | 16/10/2009 | 1 | Larval Mine | Dave Budworth;S.A. Orridge;S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP566 |
| Coombs Dale,Stoney Middleton | SK27H | 12/10/2009 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COWZ5 |
| Stoney Middleton | SK27H | 12/10/2009 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COWZK |
| Coombs Dale,Stoney Middleton | SK27H | 12/10/2009 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP543 |
| Hillclifflane, nr Idridgehay | SK24Y | 02/11/2002 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP1HC |
| Clough Wood,Darley Dale | SK26K | 12/11/1983 | 1 | Larval Mine | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP0PX |
| Willington area (spinney), Derby | SK22Z | 02/04/1905 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COQH0 |