Eriocrania subpurpurella
A few moth families are comprised of species that still have jaws and chew on their food. These families are also characterized by the members possessing very short antennae. The best known of these are the Ghost Moths, big, owlet like moths. The others belong to families consisting of very small moths, like this Eriocrania subpurpurella, which belongs to the Eriocranioidae, small and hairy moths, often with metallic shiny colours. The one in these pictures most probably is Eriocrania subpurpurella, but we are not absolutely sure, for their are some almost identical other species. The larvae feed on the leaves of oak, which they mine. Eriocrania subpurpurella has a wing span of some 10 to 12 mm and flies about in March and April. Very common in continental Europe, including all of the British Isles, except for the northern parts of Scotland.
