Common Oak Purple Eriocrania subpurpurella

Eriocrania subpurpurella
Eriocrania subpurpurella
Eriocrania subpurpurella
The tiny Eriocrania subpurpurella moth is an oak leaf miner sometimes called the Common Oak Purple. It flies early in the year (April/May) by day and night and is native to much of Europe. It has a tousled horse's mane of hair on face and thorax and, under bright light, reflective gold wings. A variation has purple spots on the gold.
Eriocrania subpurpurella
The shoulders are lighter and there is a white patch near the "tail". Its larvae make brown blotches on oak leaves.
Wingspan 9-14 mm; UK flight time Apr-May.