15.092 BF368 – Poplar Maize-miner – Phyllocnistis unipunctella – (Stephens, 1834)
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: One of three very similar phyllocnistis species
ID pointers: A tiny whitish moth, with some yellowish suffusion, with a distinct black spot near the wing apex, along with several brownish wavy lines can help with identification.
Distribution: (Last record: 28 October 2025 at King George Playing Fields Derby ) – Nationally a common species – Derbyshire status uncertain/unknown due to so few records, but probably reasonable common on Populus species – Leaf Mines are recorded
General Comment: None Mine Period Additional: None.
Mine ID Difficulty:
– Easy to identify, generally the leaf mine is distinctive and unlikely to be confused with other species. Mine Type/s: Gallery, Blister
Mine Feeding Method/s: N/A
Mine Comment: The upper surface of the mine has a snail-like trail which is long and winding with no frass visible and can cover the whole leaf. The egg is normally found under the leaf. The Mine shown in the photograph is on Populus nigra (Black Poplar). Also found on Populas italica (Lombardy Poplar) and Populus trichocarpa (Black Cottonwood)
*** Last updated on 29 November 2025 by TD ***
Last Recorded Year: 2025
Last Recorded By – Andrew John Shervill
Last Recorded General Area – King George Playing Fields Derby
Selected Images: Dave Evans © – July 21st 2021 – Belper / Dave Evans© Sept 12th 2024 – Belper / Derby 28th Oct 2025 – Andrew John Shervill©
Image Gallery
Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 1994 - 2020) | Immatures: (between 1984 - 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 Phyllocnistis unipunctella
Found 12 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 6 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 6 from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 6 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 6 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 – Phyllocnistis unipunctella
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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:
Phyllocnistis unipunctella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year:
Phyllocnistis unipunctella
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Phyllocnistis unipunctella
Adult-only & Anything [Larvae, Pupae, Adult, Mines]
Shading shows moth presence between dates
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Recordings By Year: Phyllocnistis unipunctella
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Phyllocnistis unipunctella
AGR: 31.06% | Total % Change: 3266.7%
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Phyllocnistis unipunctella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Phyllocnistis unipunctella
Phyllocnistis unipunctella
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
Phyllocnistis unipunctella
Phyllocnistis unipunctella
( 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 - Phyllocnistis unipunctella – 12 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Recorder | Source | RecordKey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King George Playing Fields, Derby | SK33G | 28/10/2025 | 1 | mine | Shervill, Andrew | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC46135432 |
| Sunnyhill Park, Derby | SK33L | 23/09/2025 | 50 | mine | Shervill, Andrew | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC45506942 |
| Sunny Hill, Derby, Derby | SK33L | 29/08/2025 | 50 | mine | Shervill, Andrew | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC44922552 |
| Belper | SK34N | 12/09/2024 | 1 | mine (empty) | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC38432047 |
| Melbourne, Derbyshire | SK42D | 26/07/2023 | 5 | mine | SHIELDS, TOM | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC32057983 |
| Former Saint-Gobain Pipeworks, Staveley [centroid] | SK47C | 30/08/2020 | 1 | Adult | Godfrey, A. | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33989196 |
| Albert Village Lake | SK31D | 21/09/2019 | 1 | Adult | Timms, Sue | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC11812655 |
| Derby (Bass Recreation Ground) | SK33T | 02/08/2012 | 1 | Larval Mine | R. Homan | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP89J |
| Holme Hall, Cutthorpe, nr Chesterfield | SK37L | 16/08/1994 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COVBN |
| Deerlands Rd, Ashgate, Chesterfield | SK37K | 24/04/1994 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP12A |
| Holly Wood NR, nr Ashbourne | SK14R | 01/09/1984 | 1 | Larval Mine | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP0QN |
| Repton area (site not precise) | SK32B | 01/01/1905 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COQGO |