Food Plant: Salix cinerea, Salix caprea (Sallow), Salix aurita (Eared Willow); occasionally Salix fragilis (Crack Willow) and Salix viminalis (Osier).

Egg: On stem of current year's growth

Mine: July - November

Notes: First discovered in Hampshire in 2006. It almost only seems to infest suckers, low shrubs (up to 2 m. high) and seedlings; only very occasionally on larger shrubs/trees. The mines in the stem are conspicuous (as above) and may be up to 30 cm long. The larva mines up or down the stem and into the leaf petiole before emerging onto the leaf base to pupate. The leaf edge is curled over and a white cocoon is formed. There may be several cocoons on a leaf (as above)

Data: 08.xi.2006, Havant Thicket, Hants, VC 11, John Langmaid

Image:© Ian Thirlwell