6.005 BF157 – Birch Cutter – Heliozela hammoniella – (Sorhagen, 1885)
Adult Micro: CAT 4 – Dissection required – 
Leaf-miner: CAT L – The leaf or a Photo required – 
Larval Case: C1 – Distinctive Species –
– click for General Verification Guidelines | – click for Specific Verification Guidelines
Leaf-miner: CAT L – The leaf or a Photo required – Larval Case: C1 – Distinctive Species – – click for General Verification Guidelines | – click for Specific Verification Guidelines 
– Uncertain/Unknown – Insufficient Data 
– Leaf-miner
– difficult to identify – detailed examination required, often a Gen Det and/or specimen and quality photographs are required.Confusion Species: Heliozela sericiella, Heliozela resplendella
ID pointers: No information at this time
Distribution: (Last record: 18 August 2022 at Ringinglow ) – Uncertain as insufficient data – 13 records prior to 2010 – Leaf Mine records in good numbers from two sites in 2018 & 2022 – likely to be locally common in Birch woodland
General Comment: None Mine Period Additional: The larva mines the leaves of birch in July & August, preferring young trees, and begins its life inside a twig, as it grows, it eventually enters a leaf, forming a gallery mine before cutting out an oval case in which to pupate.
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: None.
*** Last updated on 18 March 2026 by RP ***
Last Recorded Year: 2022
Last Recorded By – Andrew Watchorn
Last Recorded General Area – Ringinglow
Selected Images:
Ringinglow – 18/8/2022 – Andrew Watchorn© / Rose End Meadows (2009) Steve Orridge©
Image Gallery
Temporal Distribution Chart
Immatures: (between 2008 - 2022)
(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 Heliozela hammoniella
Found 10 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 1 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 9 from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 1 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 – Heliozela hammoniella
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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:
Heliozela hammoniella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year:
Heliozela hammoniella
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Heliozela hammoniella
Adult-only & Anything [Larvae, Pupae, Adult, Mines]
Shading shows moth presence between dates
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Recordings By Year: Heliozela hammoniella
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Heliozela hammoniella
AGR: 27.5% | Total % Change: 2900%
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Heliozela hammoniella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Heliozela hammoniella
Heliozela hammoniella
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
Heliozela hammoniella
Heliozela hammoniella
( 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 - Heliozela hammoniella – 10 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Recorder | Source | RecordKey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lady Canning's Plantation | SK28W | 18/08/2022 | 30 | mine (empty) | Watchorn, Andrew | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC27883843 |
| Ramsley Moor and Reservoir | SK27X | 07/08/2017 | 1 | Larva | Watchorn, Andrew | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC5582124 |
| Ladybower Resr | SK18U | 03/09/2010 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP6KV |
| Howden Resr | SK19S | 25/08/2010 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COXHT |
| Slippery Stones,Upper Derwent | SK19S | 25/08/2010 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COXI7 |
| Padley Gorge, Nether Padley | SK27P | 19/08/2010 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP6HO |
| Hopton Wood NR, Cromford | SK25T | 16/10/2009 | 1 | Larval Mine | Dave Budworth;S.A. Orridge;S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COT0S |
| Cromford, Matlock DE, UK | SK25Y | 16/10/2009 | 1 | Larva | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC23079822 |
| Rose End Meadow | SK25Y | 16/10/2009 | 1 | mine | Orridge, Steve; Hind, Steve, Budworth, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC40312705 |
| Monsall Trail, Buxton | SK17L | 14/09/2008 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COSNK |