Food Plant: Solanum dulcamara (Bittersweet), Solanum melongena (Aubergine), Atropa belladona (Deadly Nightshade)

Egg: Site unknown

Mine: April-November

Notes: Larvae live in the midrib and make irregular blotch mines from there (as shown). Occurs mainly in two broods. The mines may or may not contain frass. Older mines are brown and may reach the leaf margin. The larvae may also live in spinnings between leaves or even in the berries or the stem. Found throughout England and Wales, being more local in Ireland and Scotland. The moth was reared for the first time from Solanum melongena (Heckford & Beavan, 2019)

National Status: Common

Bradley No: 819

Gelechiid Recording Scheme: http://www.gelechiid.co.uk/species/scrobipalpa-costella

Data: 24.x.2010, Bridgemere, Cheshire VC58

Image:© Steve Hind

References:
Emmet AM & Langmaid JR, 2002, The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britainand Ireland, Vol.4(2), Gelechiidae
Heckford RJ & Beavan SD, 2019. Scrobipalpa costella (Humphreys & Westwood, 1845) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) reared from Solanum melongena L.– Entomologist’s Gazette 70:41-42
Hering, M (1957) - Bestimmungstabellen der Blattminen von Europa.
Langmaid, JR, Palmer, SM & Young, MR, 2018, A Field Guide to the Smaller Moths of Great Britain and Ireland
Robbins, J (1990) - A Provisional Atlas of The Leaf Miners of Warwickshire.