Bucculatrix demaryella

Description

Bucculatrix demaryella is a moth of the Bucculatricidae family. It is found in most of Europe (except the Iberian Peninsula and parts of the Balkan Peninsula), Russia and Japan (Hokkaido, Honshu). The wingspan is 8–9 millimetres (0.31–0.35 in). Adults are on wing from May to early June in one generation per year. The larvae of ssp. demaryella feed on Betula nana, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens and Corylus avellana, while the larvae of ssp. castaneae feed on Acer species and Castanea sativa. They mine the leaves of their host plant. The mine has the form of a short, full depth corridor, often along the midrib or a thick vein. Most of the mine has a thick frass line. The larvae leave the mine and engage in window-feeding. Later, it starts eating holes in the leaf. Larvae can be found from June to July. Young larvae are pale yellow with a darker head while older larvae are grey green. Pupates takes place in a greyish ochreous cocoon spun amongst debris.