13.002 BF447

Roeslerstammia erxlebella

(Fabricius, 1787)

Wingspan c.13mm.

This distinctive metallic-golden micro has when fresh, a purplish-bronze tinge to the area around the base of the forewings. It also sports a noticeably yellow crown and has a white band close to the tip of the antennae.

Mainly distributed in the southern half of England, there are also scattered localities in Wales and in Scotland where the species occurs.

The larvae feed on the leaves of lime (Tilia) and birch (Betula), mining the leaves when young.

There are two generations, at least in the south of the range, with adults on the wing in May and June and again in August and September.