15.086 BF364 – Sycamore Leaf-miner – Phyllonorycter geniculella – (Ragonot, 1874)
Adult Micro: CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species – 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
– click for General Verification Guidelines | – click for Specific Verification Guidelines 
– Uncertain/Unknown – Insufficient Data 
– Leaf-miner
– care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required. Confusion Species: P. acerifoliella, P. joannisi
ID pointers: A very attractive but tiny micro moth. A white base colour with rufous and black edged chevrons almost merging into each other. The second chevron is sharply angled and often joined centrally to the first.
Distribution: (Last record: 31 October 2024 at Grange Wood ) – A common species across much of England where the food plant, Acer pseudoplatanus (Sycamore) is established. Status in Derbyshire uncertain/unknown due to insufficient data, but most probably common and spreading. Maybe under-recorded.
General Comment: None Mine Period Additional: July but more commonly in October.
Mine ID Difficulty:
– Care required in ID process as confusion with similar leaf mines. Quality photos of the mine required. Mine Type/s: Blotch
Mine Feeding Method/s: Leaf Fold
Mine Comment: The larva feeds inside a sycamore leaf, creating a “mine” on the underside of the leaf, usually a rounded blotch between the veins. This mining activity can sometimes create several small creases which cause the leaf edge to curl downwards.
*** Last updated on 29 November 2025 by TD ***
Last Recorded Year: 2024
Last Recorded By – Graham Finch
Last Recorded General Area – Grange Wood
Selected Images: Kings Newton – Will Soar © / Buxton – Steve Orridge©
Image Gallery
Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 2003 - 2024) | Immatures: (between 2001 - 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 geniculella
Found 42 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 10 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 32 from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 10 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 32 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 geniculella
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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 geniculella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year:
Phyllonorycter geniculella
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Phyllonorycter geniculella
Adult-only & Anything [Larvae, Pupae, Adult, Mines]
Shading shows moth presence between dates
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Recordings By Year: Phyllonorycter geniculella
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Phyllonorycter geniculella
AGR: 5.23% | Total % Change: 240%
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Phyllonorycter geniculella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Phyllonorycter geniculella
Phyllonorycter geniculella
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 geniculella
Phyllonorycter geniculella
( 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 geniculella – 42 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Recorder | Source | RecordKey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darwin Forest | SK36C | 06/10/2025 | 6 | mine (empty) | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC45819783 |
| DWT Wyver Lane | SK34P | 09/09/2025 | 2 | mine (empty) | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC45208281 |
| DWT Wyver Lane | SK34P | 02/09/2025 | 6 | mine (empty) | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC45019516 |
| DWT Wyver Lane | SK34P | 26/08/2025 | 2 | mine (empty) | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC44786059 |
| Graves Park, Sheffield | SK38L | 26/08/2025 | 1 | mine | Mella, Pete | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC44859132 |
| Belper | SK34N | 30/07/2024 | 1 | adult | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC37596297 |
| Calke Park | SK32R | 07/10/2023 | 1 | Mine | Finch, Graham Leonard | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35105516 |
| Calke Park | SK32R | 01/10/2023 | 1 | Mine | Finch, Graham Leonard | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35105551 |
| Carver's Rocks | SK32G | 30/09/2023 | 1 | Mine | Finch, Graham Leonard | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35106092 |
| North Lees Estate, Hathersage | SK28G | 25/07/2020 | 2 | Larva | Watchorn, Andrew | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC16661532 |
| Norton Lees | SK38L | 03/08/2019 | 1 | adult | MELLA, Mr P.J. | Danes_2019-2021 | 1132 |
| Grange Wood | SK21S | 13/09/2018 | 1 | Mine | Finch, Graham Leonard | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35106447 |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 04/09/2017 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34059823 |
| Millers Dale | SK17G | 03/09/2011 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP7LL |
| Thorpe, Dovedale | SK15K | 13/10/2010 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.A. Orridge;S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP6QN |
| Ashford in the Water | SK16Z | 22/09/2010 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.A. Orridge;S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP6OU |
| Bamford | SK28B | 21/09/2010 | 1 | Larval Mine | K. McCabe;S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COTPS |
| Ladybower Resr | SK18U | 03/09/2010 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COXJH |
| Howden Resr | SK19L | 25/08/2010 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP091 |
| Padley Gorge, Nether Padley | SK27P | 19/08/2010 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP6HU |
| Hopton Wood, Cromford | SK25S | 16/10/2009 | 1 | Larval Mine | Dave Budworth;S.A. Orridge;S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COT0I |
| Cromford | SK25Y | 16/10/2009 | 1 | Larval Mine | Dave Budworth;S.A. Orridge;S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP561 |
| Linacre | SK37L | 13/10/2009 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP554 |
| Coombs Dale,Stoney Middleton | SK27H | 12/10/2009 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COWZ1 |
| Hope | SK18R | 07/10/2009 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COSZF |
| Norbury | SK14G | 01/10/2009 | 1 | Larval Mine | Dave Budworth;S.A. Orridge;S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP53D |
| Midway, Derbys. | SK32A | 10/07/2009 | 1 | adult | Williams, Michael | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC41990982 |
| Midway Rd,Midway,Swadlincote | SK32A | 10/07/2009 | 1 | Adult | M.J. Williams | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COSUB |
| Strines, New Mills | SJ98T | 17/09/2008 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP4L9 |
| Mousley Bottom, New Mills | SJ98X | 03/09/2007 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP44R |
| Cramside Wood (DWT reserve) | SK17R | 20/06/2007 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COSB4 |
| Clattercotes Wood, nr Ogston Resr | SK36K | 12/07/2006 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP367 |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 16/09/2003 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34679893 |
| Main St,Kings Newton,Melbourne | SK32Y | 16/09/2003 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP1MT |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 12/09/2003 | 2 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34679892 |
| Main St,Kings Newton,Melbourne | SK32Y | 12/09/2003 | 2 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP1MK |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 05/09/2003 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34679891 |
| Main St,Kings Newton,Melbourne | SK32Y | 05/09/2003 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP1M9 |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 25/08/2003 | 2 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34679890 |
| Main St,Kings Newton,Melbourne | SK32Y | 25/08/2003 | 2 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COR42 |
| Brackley Gate, nr Coxbench | SK34W | 03/11/2001 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COR09 |
| Cubley, nr Ashbourne | SK13U | 04/10/2001 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP1F5 |