E. sparrmannella (Bosc) Res.,1893-1980. Betula. Loc. f.c. and probably wdspd; mines more
likely to be of this than the next species occur everywhere on birch. 88 *Hadleigh (FGW);
Eastwood (Whittle. 1899a).
E. salopiella (Staint.) Res., 1977-1980. Betula. Loc. and less c, than the last two species.
VC 18. 49 Loughton; 50 Ongar Park Wood; 52 Birchanger; 69 Thorndon Park; 70 Pheasant
-house Wood NR. VC 19. 02 Rowhedge; 12 *Weeleyhall Wood NR (AME).
E. haworthi Bradley Res., (1899)-1980. Betula. Wdspd and c. *88 Hadleigh (Whittle, 1899a).
E. sangii (Wood) Res., 1935-1980. Betula. Wdspd and f.c. *50 Ongar Park (SW).
E. semipurpurella (Steph.) Res., 1890-1980. Betula. Wdspd and c. *69 Brentwood (CRNB)
NEPTICULIDAE
A large family which includes the smallest moths known to science. Some are
unicolorous, but others have brilliant metallic markings, often in the form of a
fascia across the forewing. They fly mostly at dawn and dusk and are seldom
seen unless found by day resting on tree-trunks. Most of the larvae are
leaf-miners and so much more conspicuous, but a few mine tender bark, buds
or seeds. Many are exceedingly common and it has been calculated that in years
of plenty up to a million larvae of Ectoedemia subbimaculella may feed
simultaneously, and quite harmlessly, on a single oak-tree. As many as 123
mines of a related and local species, E. quinquella, were counted in a single
oak-leaf. (Tutt, 1899:343). Of the 100 British species, 77 are recorded in Essex,
where the family has been studied more fully than any other county. Two or
three more species could possibly occur.
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