15.050 BF330  –  Gracillariidae –  Lithocolletinae – Phyllonorycter cerasicolella – Cherry Leaf-miner – (Herrich-Schäffer, 1855) Adult Micro:  CAT 4 – Dissection required – Gen-Det-Reqd       Leaf-miner:  CAT A – Recorded accepted without the leaf or a photo –       Larval Case:  C1 – Distinctive Species –       PDF Icon – click for General Verification Guidelines  |   PDF Icon – click for Specific Verification Guidelines
Black – Uncertain/Unknown – Insufficient Data        purple – Leaf Miner
Taxonomy:   Micro   >>  Gracillariidae  >> Lithocolletinae
** Identification write up required **
Other Name/s: Cherry Midget
ID Difficulty:  Red – difficult to identify – detailed examination required, often a Gen Det and/or specimen and quality photographs are required.
Confusion Species: Phyllonorycter spinicolella (Blackthorn Leaf-miner); Phyllonorycter lantanella (Viburnum Leaf-miner)
ID pointers: The forewings are golden-orange with shining white, black-margined wedge-shaped spots and a black apical strigula (a small streak).
Distribution:  (Last record: 28 October 2025 at Markham Vale )  –  Uncertain as few records all of which are Leaf Mines – Locally scattered 3 records prior to 2010 – 6 records -2016-2024
General Comment: None
Flight Period: May /  August –  Two generations Mine Period:  January /  February /  March /  April /  July /  September /  October /  November /  December
Mine Period Additional: None.
Mine ID Difficulty:  Red Mine Leaf – 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: The larva produces a small, tentiform (tent-shaped) blotch mine on the underside of the leaf of cherry, typically located between two side veins, which causes the leaf to arch or fold over. Several mines may be found on a single leaf.
Moth Activity: Cathemeral   – but can be disturbed during the day Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Neil Gregory (leaf mine); Mark Radford (leaf mine)  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 28 November 2025 by TD ***
Wingspan: 7-8mm
Food Plant: Cherry and cultivated Cherry
Last Recorded Year: 2025
Last Recorded By – Mark Radford
Last Recorded General Area – Markham Vale

Selected Images:  

Buxton 2024 – Neil Gregory© / Markham Vale 28/10/2025 Mark Radford©



Distribution Map for Phyllonorycter cerasicolella

Found 9 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ 6 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 3 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

If the Map Layers function fails, just refresh the page and it should be OK after. Use the +- zoom on the top left, or on a tablet, use two fingers to zoom. Remember, the last layer you ticked is the one which displays the popup information - they sit on top of each other - de-select then re-select, to see the popup values.

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 cerasicolella

⚠️ 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.

Visit NBN Site


Monthly Records By Year: Phyllonorycter cerasicolella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
No data returned from the database.

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


First/Last Recorded Dates: Phyllonorycter cerasicolella
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 cerasicolella
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Phyllonorycter cerasicolella
AGR: 58.83%   |   Total % Change: 2450%

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Phyllonorycter cerasicolella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Phyllonorycter cerasicolella
( 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
Phyllonorycter cerasicolella
( 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 cerasicolella – 9 records available

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

Site NameTetradDateCountStageSource
Staveley garden SYASK47H28/10/202550minevc57_irecords_extract
Markham Vale Hall Lane PondSK47H02/10/20251minevc57_irecords_extract
Spring LakesSK53A15/08/20241minevc57_irecords_extract
Poppy WoodSK32S22/11/20231Minevc57_irecords_extract
Calke ParkSK32R01/10/20231Minevc57_irecords_extract
Carver's RocksSK32G30/09/20231Minevc57_irecords_extract
Grange WoodSK21S13/09/20181Minevc57_irecords_extract
Blacka Moor and PlantationSK28V10/10/20161not recordedvc57_irecords_extract
Elvaston Park, Derby (site not precise)SK43B29/10/19962Larval Minevc57_danes_bc_data

Scroll to Top