Food Plant: Thymus spp. (Thyme)

Egg: Laid on flower

Mine: August - May

Notes: Initially it feeds on the seeds of thyme and then uses the seedhead as a case. It overwinters in this case and starts feeding again in March on grass spp. It then makes a case from the mined blade of grass. This case is enlarged to finally 11mm in length. Occurs where Thyme grows eg chalk downland, rocky slopes. Occurs throughout the UK - mainly coastal in Scotland and on limestone in ireland. A young larval case made of a Thyme floret feeding on Thyme leaves in autumn.

Data: 07.x.2023, Chantry Hill, West Sussex, VC13

Image:© Will Langdon