Although the species was not in doubt, I wasnt 100% sure of the historic status of Lyonetia prunifoliella in Kent.
I found a single mine of this species in 2015 and managed to rear to through to adulthood, with the male emerging on 16th September.
Lyonetia prunifoliella: mine on Blackthorn, adult reared
Lyonetia prunifoliella: shortly before emergence, ex mine on Blackthorn, Aylesham
Lyonetia prunifoliella: male, ex mine on Blackthorn: Dave Shenton
John Langmaid is now aware of this record and has confirmed that it is indeed new to East Kent (I think it’s the first for Kent as a whole). Full details will be submitted to John for inclusion in the micro moth review of 2015.
The rather sad footnote to this discovery is that the site is under threat as earmarked for development…
Kent Moth Group - this website now closed 