15.039 BF320 – Common Oak Leaf-miner – Phyllonorycter quercifoliella – (Zeller, 1839)
Adult Micro: CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species – Leaf-miner: CAT R – Moth will need to be reared and possibly dissected – 
Larval Case: C1 – Distinctive Species –
– click for General Verification Guidelines | – click for Specific Verification Guidelines
Larval Case: C1 – Distinctive Species – – click for General Verification Guidelines | – click for Specific Verification Guidelines 
– Rare / Uncommon / Scarce 
– Leaf-miner
– care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required. Confusion Species: P.messaniella and P.platani
ID pointers: The basal wing streak extends along about two thirds of the wing, whereas in P.messaniella, just about reaches half way. A delicately marked little moth
The ‘cremaster’ with its two hooks is diagnostic for P. quercifoliella
The ‘cremaster’ with its two hooks is diagnostic for P. quercifoliella
Distribution: (Last record: 4 February 2025 at Gnat Hole, Glossop ) – Probably the commonest of the oak feeding Phyllonorycter species. Should be widespread across the recording area where the food plant exists but records are few with only 8 records since 2020-2025
General Comment: None Mine Period Additional: A small blotch on the underside of oak leaves
Mine ID Difficulty: Not Recorded
Mine Type/s: Not Recorded
Mine Feeding Method/s: Not Recorded
Mine Comment: None.
*** Last updated on 5 November 2025 by TD ***
Last Recorded Year: 2025
Last Recorded By – Christian Heintzen
Last Recorded General Area – Gnat Hole, Glossop
Selected Images:
Gnat Hole 4/2/2025; 27/9/2024 – Christian Heintzen© / Lower Gamesley 31/8/2024 – Steve Hind© / Shirland 16/6/2021 – Nikki Mahadevan©
Image Gallery
Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 2017 - 2021) | 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 quercifoliella
Found 21 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 8 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 13 from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 8 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 13 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 quercifoliella
⚠️ Please wait for the map to load fully – do not click the link shown.
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 quercifoliella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year:
Phyllonorycter quercifoliella
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Phyllonorycter quercifoliella
Adult-only & Anything [Larvae, Pupae, Adult, Mines]
Shading shows moth presence between dates
Click the colour discs below to Select/De-select as Required
Recordings By Year: Phyllonorycter quercifoliella
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Phyllonorycter quercifoliella
AGR: 5.36% | Total % Change: 250%
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Phyllonorycter quercifoliella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Phyllonorycter quercifoliella
Phyllonorycter quercifoliella
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 quercifoliella
Phyllonorycter quercifoliella
( 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 quercifoliella – 21 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Recorder | Source | RecordKey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DWT Wyver Lane | SK34P | 02/09/2025 | 6 | mine (empty) | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC45019763 |
| Graves Park | SK38L | 15/08/2025 | 1 | mine | Mella, Pete | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC44507644 |
| Glossop, Gnat Hole | SK09L | 31/01/2025 | 1 | pupa | Heintzen, Christian | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC40157021 |
| King's Newton | SK32Y | 28/10/2024 | 1 | mine | TOM SHIELDS | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC39161257 |
| Glossop, Gnat Hole | SK09G | 27/09/2024 | 1 | Leaf-mine | Heintzen, Christian | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC38689423 |
| Lower Gamesley VC | SK09C | 31/08/2024 | 1 | mine (empty) | Hind, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC38243511 |
| Shirland - Hallfieldgate Lane | SK35Z | 16/06/2021 | 2 | adult | Mahadevan, Nikki | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34957082 |
| Blacka Moor and Plantation | SK28V | 11/07/2020 | 10 | Larva | Watchorn, Andrew | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC15201570 |
| Millstone Edge | SK28K | 26/09/2017 | 10 | Adult | Watchorn, Andrew | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC6053320 |
| Big Moor and Barbrook Reservoir | SK27T | 15/08/2017 | 2 | Larva | Watchorn, Andrew | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC5650840 |
| Bamford | SK28B | 21/09/2010 | 1 | Larval Mine | K. McCabe;S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COTPX |
| Ladybower Resr | SK18U | 03/09/2010 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP6L7 |
| Howden Resr | SK19L | 25/08/2010 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP095 |
| Upper Wood, Howden Resr | SK19R | 25/08/2010 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP09O |
| Padley Gorge, Nether Padley | SK27P | 19/08/2010 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP6HY |
| Linacre | SK37L | 13/10/2009 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP55B |
| Stoney Middleton | SK27H | 12/10/2009 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COWZI |
| Hope | SK18R | 07/10/2009 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COSZM |
| Carr Vale NR,Bolsover | SK47K | 13/09/2006 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP3N7 |
| Clattercotes Wood, nr Ogston Resr | SK36Q | 12/07/2006 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CORSX |
| Brackley Gate, nr Coxbench | SK34W | 03/11/2001 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COR0D |