| 6.001 .... B&F 158 |
Antispila metallella ([Denis &
Schiffermüller], 1775)  |
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| Status
.....Only discovered new to Nottinghamshire in
September 2023, when
leaf mines were found at Duke's Wood near Eakring by Nick and Samantha
Brownley. This is predominantly a southern
species, but occurs north into Yorkshire. Specifically targetted surveys
quickly showed that this moth was actually widespread in
Nottinghamshire. The identity of any mine to species level, can be determined by the length of the cut-out at its widest part. Those measuring between 5.0 and 6.5mm are Antispila metallella, while those measuring between 4.0 and 5mm are Antispila petryi. Females of A. metallella also make one to three tiny practice slits before actually laying the egg, and these are visible at the start of the mines (if the start is visible in older mines). A. petryi females do not do this. All leaf mines found at Duke's Wood and other sites where the mines have been found, have all been located on those trees growing in shadier conditions and often on the the poorer quality growth. |
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| Full-grown larva constructing the case and vacating the leaf mine on Dogwood Cornus sanguinea. Photographed at Duke's Wood near Eakring, June 2025 | ||
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| Full-grown larva eating out the section of leaf to form the final case. Photographed at Duke's Wood near Eakring, June 2025 | ||
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| Occupied leaf mines on Dogwood Cornus sanguinea. Photographed at Duke's Wood near Eakring, June 2025 | ||
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| Occupied leaf mines on Dogwood Cornus sanguinea. Photographed at Duke's Wood near Eakring, June 2025 | ||
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| Vacated leaf mines on Dogwood Cornus sanguinea. Photographed at Duke's Wood near Eakring, September 2023 | ||
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| Nottinghamshire (VC56) distribution of
Antispila metallella |
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| copyright © Trevor and Dilys Pendleton (www.eakringbirds.com) | . | . |