Phyllonorycter messaniella
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
The European oak leaf-miner or Zeller's midget (Phyllonorycter messaniella) is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is found in Europe south of the line running from Ireland, through Great Britain, Denmark to Ukraine. It is also found in Macaronesia. It is an introduced species in New Zealand and Australia.
The wingspan is 7–9 mm. The forewings are light golden ochreous; a whitish dark-margined median streak from base almost to middle; four costal and three dorsal shining white wedge-shaped spots, dark-margined anteriorly and first pair except towards origin posteriorly, first dorsal very long, reaching opposite apex of second costal; a black apical dot. Hindwings are grey. The larva is yellow, paler anteriorly; dorsal line dark green; head brownish.
Adults are on wing from April to November in a number of generations. The larvae feed on Carpinus betulus, Castanea sativa, Fagus sylvatica, Prunus, Quercus ilex, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Quercus suber, Quercus x turneri and Tilia species. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|
More parks will be added in future updates.
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a European Oak Leafminer sighting in London on a given day, based on 15 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 895th most-seen of the 1504 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
October and November
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a European Oak Leafminer in London on a given day, against under 5% in December to September, the lowest months.
3rd of 4
Of the 4 cities where we can rate European Oak Leafminer sightings, London ranks 3rd at under 5%. The best odds are in Liverpool (United Kingdom, about 10%) and Auckland (New Zealand, about 10%).
Same genus: Phyllonorycter
The closest relatives of the European Oak Leafminer that you can see in London (genus Phyllonorycter) are Firethorn Leafminer (about 10%), London Midget (about 10%) and Nut Leaf Blister Moth (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the European Oak Leafminer is recorded against all the insects logged in London (15 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
