15.065 BF343 – Dark Hornbeam Leaf-miner – Phyllonorycter esperella – (Goeze, 1783)
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 coryli (Nut Leaf Blister Moth)
ID pointers: A small moth, the forewing markings appear white on an orange background, with black edging around the strigulae (small streaks). The thorax has a white median line.
Distribution: (Last record: 11 October 2025 at Darley Park, Derby ) – Only records received are of Leaf Mines so status is uncertain in the recording area. All Leaf mines from one site in the south of the county. Would suspect the species to be rare and localised due to the scarcity and localisation of Hornbeams in the county.
Leaf Mine discovered Sunnyhill Park Derby 23/9/2025; Darley Park 10/10/2025.
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: Not Recorded
Mine Feeding Method/s: Not Recorded
Mine Comment: The larvae feed exclusively on the leaves of the hornbeam (and hop hornbeam (Ostrya carpinifolia). The mine is like thin paper in appearance and they create a roundish, silvery blotch mine on the upper side of the leaf, centred over a side vein. As the mine matures, it contracts significantly, causing the leaf to fold strongly upwards. The pupa overwinters inside the cocoon within the mine.
*** Last updated on 29 November 2025 by TD ***
Last Recorded Year: 2025
Last Recorded By – Andrew-John Shervill
Last Recorded General Area – Darley Park, Derby
Selected Images:
Sunnyhill 23/9/2025 – Sunnyhill Park and Darley Park (October 2025) – Andrew-John Shervill©
Image Gallery
Temporal Distribution Chart
Immatures: (between 2008 - 2025)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)
This chart summarises all available historical occurrence records collated by ISO week of the year. It reflects recorder effort and sampling distribution as well as true biological activity, and should be interpreted as an indicative pattern of seasonal occurrence rather than a statistically controlled abundance or phenology model.
Distribution Map for Phyllonorycter esperella
Found 11 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 7 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 4 from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 7 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 4 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 esperella
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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 esperella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year:
Phyllonorycter esperella
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Phyllonorycter esperella
Adult-only & Anything [Larvae, Pupae, Adult, Mines]
Shading shows moth presence between dates
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Recordings By Year: Phyllonorycter esperella
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Phyllonorycter esperella
AGR: 16.67% | Total % Change: 1275%
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Phyllonorycter esperella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Phyllonorycter esperella
Phyllonorycter esperella
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 esperella
Phyllonorycter esperella
( 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 esperella – 11 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Recorder | Source | RecordKey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chaddesden, Derby, Derby | SK33Y | 18/10/2025 | 50 | mine | Shervill, Andrew | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC45980786 |
| Sunnyhill Park, Derby | SK33L | 23/09/2025 | 3 | mine | Shervill, Andrew | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC45506941 |
| Serpentine Woods (north),Buxton | SK07L | 01/09/2025 | 1 | mine (tenant | Mortin, Jon | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC45005411 |
| Jim Mart Nature Reserve | SK36S | 01/09/2025 | 1 | mine | Mahadevan, Nikki | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC45040642 |
| Calke Park | SK32R | 07/10/2023 | 1 | Mine | Finch, Graham Leonard | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35105512 |
| Calke Park | SK32R | 01/10/2023 | 1 | Mine | Finch, Graham Leonard | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35105545 |
| Serpentine Woods (north),Buxton | SK07L | 29/09/2023 | 1 | Larva | Mortin, Jon | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35483077 |
| Bamford | SK28B | 21/09/2010 | 1 | Larval Mine | K. McCabe;S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COTPQ |
| Broomfield Hall, Morley, Derby | SK34V | 08/11/2008 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COZZD |
| Calke Park | SK32L | 25/10/2008 | 1 | Mine | Finch, Graham Leonard | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35105485 |
| Calke Park,Ticknall | SK32R | 25/10/2008 | 1 | Larval Mine | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COSOY |