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) and the final instar larva is shown from this host.

Data: 29.viii.2018, Drinkstone, West Suffolk, VC26

Image:© RJ Heckford