Phyllonorycter froelichiella - on Alnus glutinosa - Steve Orridge
15.08 BF358  – Large Alder Leaf-miner  – Phyllonorycter froelichiella  – (Zeller, 1839)
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 –      
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: Broad-barred Midget
ID Difficulty:  amber  – care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required.
Confusion Species:  Phyllonorycter tristrigella (Elm Leaf-miner); Phyllonorycter nicellii (Hazel leaf-miner)
ID pointers:  The adult moth features a distinctive “striped” appearance, with patterns fading from whitish to chestnut to black. 
Distribution:  (Last record: 7 October 2023 at Calke Park )  –  Uncertain due to insufficient data – Probably locally common – Harrison & Sterling lists 4 records to 1985; DaNES 9 records from 2001-2010 all leaf mines; iRecord two in 2023 from Calke Park of Leaf Mines.
General Comment: None
Flight Period: July /  August Mine Period:  September /  October
Mine Period Additional: None.
Mine ID Difficulty:  Amber Mine Leaf – Care required in ID process as confusion with similar leaf mines. Quality photos of the mine required.
Mine Type/s:  Blotch, Blister
Mine Feeding Method/s:  Leaf Fold
Mine Comment: The larvae primarily feed on the leaves of the common alder and grey alder. The larvae create a long mine on the underside of the leaf, typically running between two veins and often extending from the midrib to the margin. The lower epidermis of the mine appears smooth. Multiple mines can often be found on a single leaf.
Moth Activity: Cathemeral   – but can be disturbed during the day Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Steve Orridge (Leaf Mine)  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 29 November 2025 by TD ***
Food Plant: Alder
Last Recorded Year: 2023
Last Recorded By – Graham Finch
Last Recorded General Area – Calke Park

Selected Images:  

Buxton – Steve Orridge©



Temporal Distribution Chart
Immatures: (between 2001 - 2023)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)

Distribution Map for Phyllonorycter froelichiella

Found 12 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ 2 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 10 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 – Phyllonorycter froelichiella

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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.

Visit NBN Site


Monthly Records By Year: Phyllonorycter froelichiella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

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

First/Last Recorded Dates: Phyllonorycter froelichiella
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 froelichiella
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Phyllonorycter froelichiella
AGR: 0%   |   Total % Change: 0%

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

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Phyllonorycter froelichiella

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 froelichiella
( 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 froelichiella – 12 records available

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

Site NameTetradDateCountStageRecorderSourceRecordKey
Calke ParkSK32R07/10/20231MineFinch, Graham Leonardvc57_irecords_extractiBRC35105514
Calke ParkSK32R01/10/20231MineFinch, Graham Leonardvc57_irecords_extractiBRC35105548
Mam TorSK18G18/09/20152LarvaWatchorn, Andrewvc57_irecords_extractiBRC3086800
Ashford in the WaterSK16Z22/09/20101Larval MineS.A. Orridge;S.H. Hindvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP6OT
Ashford in the WaterSK16Z22/09/20101Larval MineS.A. Orridge;S.H. Hindvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP6PG
BamfordSK28B21/09/20101Larval MineK. McCabe;S.H. Hindvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COTPR
Ladybower ResrSK18U03/09/20101Larval MineS.H. Hindvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP6L2
LinacreSK37L13/10/20091Larval MineS.H. Hindvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP553
NorburySK14G01/10/20091Larval MineDave Budworth;S.A. Orridge;S.H. Hindvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP53C
Broomfield Hall, Morley, DerbySK34V08/11/20081Larval MineS.H. Hindvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COZZE
Shallcross Wood, Goyt Valley, Whaley BridgeSK07E26/09/20061Larval MineS.H. Hindvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP9YA
Brackley Gate, nr CoxbenchSK34W03/11/20011Larval MineS.H. Hindvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COR08

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