Antispila metallella

Wingspan 8 to 9 mm. A small bronzy metallic species with paler metallic markings.  The larva mines the leaves of Dogwood.

Adult Leafmine

The mine size needs to be measured - length of the long axis of the oval cut out for Antispila metallella should be 5.5 to 7 mm. For Antispila petryi this is 4 to 5 mm.  Antispila metallella mines usually have some 'practice marks' at the start of the mine, caused by the female making a few attempts at oviposition; these are not found in A petryi mines.

Areas where the larval foodplant is found.

The adults fly in the daytime during May, preferring sunny weather.

The larvae make blotch-mines in leaves of the foodplant, Dogwood and when fully grown, cut out a small oval to form a pupating case. The combination of mine and cut-out is very distinctive.

This species is locally distributed throughout most of England. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.

It appears to be uncommon in Leicestershire and Rutland, where there are few records. L&R Moth Group status = D (rare or rarely recorded).

http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/A.metallella3.htm

https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/monotrysia/adeloidea/heliozelidae/antispila/antispila-metallella/