Eriocrania unimaculella
This record describes Eriocrania unimaculella (species). Recorded family: Eriocraniidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 10mm. This species has a silvery, rather than golden, tornal spot which can help distinguish it from similar species; however the adults can be very difficult to tell apart and it is best to rear from larvae or to refer to genitalia for identification. All Eriocraniidae leafmines have spaghetti-like frass, in long threads. The larva when fully developed has a dark brown head capsule. This is retracted into the transparent prothorax but the dark head shows through as two dark spots on the pronotum. Two short lateral projections on the 1st adbominal segment are sometimes visible. Immature larvae have dark ventral spots on thorax and 1st abdominal segment. (ref: Bladmineerders.nl, accessed March 4th 2025) The mine can only be recorded if mature larvae are present. Provide photos of larva outside the mine as well as a blacklit photo of the mine in the leaf; note the host. The adults fly in sunshine during March and April. The larvae feed on Birch, causing a blotch at the edge of the leaf. . Mines can be found during late April to late May. Well distributed over much of Britain but not particularly common. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local. http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/E.unimaculella.htm https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/glossata/eriocraniidae/heringocrania/heringocrania-unimaculella/
Wikipedia reference for Eriocrania unimaculella: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eriocrania_unimaculella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Eriocraniidae
- Genus
- Eriocrania
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Around Birch.
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly in sunshine during March and April.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on Birch, causing a blotch at the edge of the leaf. . Mines can be found during late April to late May.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Well distributed over much of Britain but not particularly common. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Eriocrania unimaculella. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Eriocrania unimaculella (2)
Frequently Asked Questions About Eriocrania unimaculella
What is Eriocrania unimaculella?
Eriocrania unimaculella is a species in the family Eriocraniidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Eriocrania unimaculella found?
Habitat: Around Birch.
When is Eriocrania unimaculella active?
Eriocrania unimaculella: seasonal activity - The adults fly in sunshine during March and April..
What is the life cycle of a Eriocrania unimaculella?
The larvae feed on Birch, causing a blotch at the edge of the leaf. . Mines can be found during late April to late May.