Hertfordshire Notes:
The first British record of this species was made in 1989 when mines were discovered in Essex (Emmet, 1989. Entomologist's Record 101: 189 - 191); I found the first Hertfordshire mines a few weeks later on the Firethorn bush in front of my study window in Bishops Stortford. As far as I am aware they were not there previously and although the spread of the moth was, and perhaps still is, assisted by the garden trade it seems that mine arrived unaided from some nearby site. The spread in Britain has been documented by Nash et al (1995). The next day, Charles Watson found mines on plants at his nursery in Bishops Stortford. Most of Hertfordshire had been 'colonised' by the end of 1991 and today the bright white mines may be seen easily during the winter months on the upper surface of Firethorn leaves in front gardens and elsewhere across the county. Away from Hertfordshire, mines have now been found on hawthorn, and so it is important to note that leucographella mines have a shining white 'skin' that is not speckled with frass like the translucent 'skin' of P. corylifoliella mines.

Middlesex Notes:
Ubiquitous, affecting planted Firethorn Pyracantha sp. in even the most urban parts. In most years, mines are abundant, but in others they can be scarce.

Recorded in 33 (80%) of 41 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1989. Last Recorded in 2023. Additional Stats

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