2.008 BF12 - Eriocranidae - Eriocrania sangii - Large Birch Purple

2.008 BF12 - Eriocraniidae - Eriocrania sangii - Purple Spring Jewel

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

Leaf-miner: CAT R - Moth will need to be reared and possibly dissected -

Larval Case: C4 - As C3 but also a Gen.Det. required -

- click for Verification Guidelines

- Generally Common / Widespread - Leaf Miner - Day-flying

Taxonomy: Micro >> Eriocraniidae

Other Name/s: Large Birch Purple

ID Difficulty: Red

- difficult to identify - detailed examination required, often a Gen Det and/or specimen and quality photographs are required.
Confusion Species: E.cicatricella; E.semipurpurella; E.sparrmannella

ID pointers: Metallic purple coloured forewings with a scattering of gold metallic markings. The adults are difficult to tell apart from E. semipurpurella without reference to the genitalia structure.

Distribution: An early flier and a fairly common species throughout the county.

Flight Period: March / April / - On the wing March – April

Mine Period: April / May / - The larva creates a blotch mine in a leaf of birch (Betula), rather like some related species, but unlike the other species, the larva itself is dark grey and is quite distinctive if the mined leaf is held up to the light.

Moth Activity: Diurnal - and is attracted to light

Forewing: 4-7mm

Food Plant: Birch

Recorded dates for Common [Blue-coded ] moths are not stored on the website at this current time.

Eriocrania semipurpurella – Will Soar

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