Cryptic Apple Leaf-miner Phyllonorycter hostis

Formerly given the vernacular name Red Apple Midget.

I usually expect early Phyllonorycter in this group to be oxyacanthae, especially when netted not far from Hawthorn, although this one wasn't especially early. It was a nice surprise when examining the genitalia to see that it was in fact hostis, a species I had not previously confirmed. The strongly-curved spine on the right costa was distinctive and the straight spine on the shorter left costa was longer than on some of its congeners.

male Cryptic Apple Leaf-miner Phyllonorycter hostis showing genitalia, Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 11th April 2025