Food Plant: Salix cinerea (Grey Willow), Salix caprea (Sallow), Salix aurita (Eared Willow); occasionally Salix fragilis (Crack Willow), Salix alba (White Willow) and Salix viminalis (Osier), Populus tremula (Aspen)

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 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 (see upper right leaf). The leaf edge is curled over and a white cocoon is formed.

Data:13.x.2006, Havant Thicket, Hants, VC 11, John Langmaid

Image:© Ian Thirlwell