As there are not too many moths around at the moment I thought I would try searching for the evidence of a couple of leaf mining moths on the leaves of Holm Oak or Evergreen Oak (Quercus ilex). Holm Oak was a particularly popular Victorian planting and can be found in many of our Parks, Cemetery's and in the gardens of older larger properties.
The records for both of the species shown are pretty sparse for our area but I have found both along with Phyllonorycter messaniella (not shown) on almost every tree I have looked at over the last few weeks.
Ectoedemia heringella - This small Nepticulidae species was first discovered in London in 2002 and given the numbers of mines I have found so far here in Bath there must be hundreds of them around a single mature tree when they emerge in June/July. I am overwintering some tenanted mines here at home so hopefully I will see some adults to photograph in the summer.
Stigmella suberivora - I have found this species on most trees I have looked at in the Bath area as well as some further afield but nothing like the numbers of the previous species and I have only managed to find two tenanted mines so I am less optimistic about seeing an adult of this species in the coming spring/summer.