Incurvaria pectinea
Incurvaria pectinea
Larvae • On Betula, incident light • © Andy Mabbett

8.001 BF129
Incurvaria pectinea

Haworth, 1828

Wingspan 12-16 mm.

The adults of this species are similar in appearance to I. masculella, but rather less contrastingly-patterned.

The antennae of the male seem to taper more abruptly near the tip than the more gradual narrowing of that species. Flying in April and May, the species is fairly well-distributed throughout much of the British Isles, though tends to be commoner further north.

The eggs are laid on leaves of birch (Betula), hazel (Corylus) or occasionally hornbeam (Corylus) or apple (Malus). Generally several larvae feed in a single leaf, creating a distinctive pattern of feeding windows.

The larvae then cut out circular cases and drop to the leaf-litter to continue feeding, leaving behind a leaf containing many circular or oval cut-outs.

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