The Ectoedemia heringella larva mines the leaves of evergreen
oaks such as Quercus ilex (Holm oak) or Quercus alnifolia Poech.
The eggs are laid on the upper-side of a leaf, often near a
vein.  As the larva feeds, it produces a much-contorted gallery
mine, almost filled with black frass - debris made up of
droppings.  Numerous larvae and mines can be found on a single
leaf.  Larvae have been found from November to April but mainly
during January or February.  Pupation takes place outside the
leaf in a small, ovoid, brown cocoon, either between leaves or
in leaf-litter on the ground.  Adults occur from late April to
end of June (Nieukerken, 1985). However, moth-trapping at 2
additional sites in London has produced specimens on dates
between 4 July and 1 August.  The moth’s flight period in
Britain is April to August, possibly in 2 overlapping
generations.  Adults have a wingspan of between 4.4 and 5.8mm.
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