Lyonetia prunifoliella has been spreading rapidly across England, having recolonised the country a few years ago following a period of around 100 years with no records. It was first recorded in Wales as a leaf-mine on Anglesey last year, and soon after I found a mine at Kenfig (Glamorgan). I couldn't find any mines in Cardiff last year, but this year they have been present on Blackthorn suckers in two of my local parks.
After a trip to the Lamby Way recycling site yesterday I called in at Lamby Lake to look for leaf-mines. Lyonetia prunifoliella mines were frequent on Blackthorn suckers in several places, the larvae mostly having recently finished feeding and busy spinning their elaborate hammock cocoons (similar to those of L. clerkella) on the underside of leaves.
It could be anywhere in the county already, so well worth looking out for. It seems especially fond of suckering Blackthorn between 2 and 5 feet tall.
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