8.003 BF131  –  Incurvariidae –  Incurvariinae – Incurvaria oehlmanniella – Purple-tinged Cutter – (Hübner, 1796) Adult Micro:  CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species –       Leaf-miner:  CAT L – The leaf or a Photo required – reared and possibly dissected       PDF Icon – click for General Verification Guidelines  |   PDF Icon – click for Specific Verification Guidelines
Black – Uncertain/Unknown – Insufficient Data        purple – Leaf Miner     day-flying – Day-flying
Taxonomy:   Micro   >>  Incurvariidae  >> Incurvariinae
Other Name/s: Common Leaf-cutter
ID Difficulty:  amber  – care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required.
Confusion Species:  Incurvaria masculella
ID pointers: Easily confused with I. masculella – The males of this species have simple antennae – An attractively marked little moth. The yellowish marking on the costa is closer to the wing tip. If present on masculella it is closer to the head than the opposing tornal spot.
Distribution:  (Last record: 22 February 2025 at Longdendale, Wildboar Clough )  –  Uncertain due to few records – One in 1971 then two in 2024 – likely to be found in localised colonies on the upland moors where there are Bilberry and Cloudberry growing.
General Comment: None
Flight Period: June /  July –  One generation in June – July Mine Period:  July /  August
Mine Period Additional: The larvae feed on bilberry and cloudberry, and at first they mine the leaves creating a small blotch mine elongated to form a linear mine, then cut out a portable case and dropping to the ground. Here they feed on dead leaves.
Mine ID Difficulty: Not Recorded
Mine Type/s: Not Recorded
Mine Feeding Method/s: Not Recorded
Mine Comment: None.
Moth Activity: Cathemeral  Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Christian Heintzen  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Wingspan: 14mm
Food Plant: Bilberry and Cloud Berry
Last Recorded Year: 2024
Last Recorded By – Christian Heintzen
Last Recorded General Area – Longdendale, Wildboar Clough

Selected Images:  

Longdendale – 2024 – Christian Heintzen©



Distribution Map for Incurvaria oehlmanniella

Found 13 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ 6 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 7 from Before 2020
Flying
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Mining
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

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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 – Incurvaria oehlmanniella

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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.

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Monthly Records By Year: Incurvaria oehlmanniella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Monthly Counts By Year: Incurvaria oehlmanniella
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only. )


First/Last Recorded Dates: Incurvaria oehlmanniella
Adult-only & Anything [Larvae, Pupae, Adult, Mines]

Shading shows moth presence between dates

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Recordings By Year: Incurvaria oehlmanniella
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Incurvaria oehlmanniella
AGR: 2.58%   |   Total % Change: 75%

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Incurvaria oehlmanniella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Incurvaria oehlmanniella
( data includes Adult Stage only )

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
Incurvaria oehlmanniella
( 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 - Incurvaria oehlmanniella – 13 records available

Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns

Site NameTetradDateCountStageSource
Longdendale, Wildboar Clough WoodlandSK09U20/05/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Markham Vale South Tip , DerbyshireSK47K18/05/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Markham Vale DerbyshireSK47K11/05/20254adultvc57_irecords_extract
PoolsbrookSK47G01/05/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Longdendale, Wildboar CloughSK09U19/05/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Derbyshire Wild Life Trust Long CloughSK09G15/05/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Hardhurst Rd, Alvaston, DerbySK33W24/05/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Dimminsdale NR, Calke, TicknallSK32Q03/06/20031Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Slagmill Plantation, Beeley Moor (site not precise)SK36E14/06/19941Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Hell Bank Plantation, Beeley (site not precise)SK26Z23/05/19711Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Repton (site not precise)SK32B01/06/19271Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Breadsall Moor, Breadsall, Derby (site not precise)SK33U31/05/19191Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Repton (site not precise)SK32B01/01/19061Adultvc57_danes_bc_data

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