Yorkshire Status: Very common and widespread resident.

This is a common widespread species across the county where the mines on bramble are a familiar site. The main identification problem is to separate this species from the much rarer Stigmella spendidissimella. There is no single feature which is reliable to separate these two and for a positive identification the adult should be bred out. Records of mines are mapped here as aurella as this is by far the commoner species and the vast majority of these will be correct. A typical aurella mine has frass occupying more than half the width in the second half of the mine, does not cross its own track but often crosses the midrib. The larvae may remain active in the mine in winter so tenanted mines after October are always aurella as larvae of splendidissimella do not overwinter. The only other species you might mistake it for is the much rarer Ectoedemia rubivora which has a highly contorted early gallery leading to a blotch.

The situation may become more complicated, as "aurella" may refer to more than one species, and some of these might be host specific. It can mine plants other than bramble, in particular Geum, Strawberry and Agrimony, along with many different species of Rubus.

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: Widespread and usually common in all five vice-counties.

Recorded in 184 (92%) of 200 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1859. Last Recorded in 2025. Additional Stats

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