Common throughout much of the British Isles. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight widespread and common. The adult has a wingspan of 4.5-5.5 mm, with red- and black-headed forms co-exist, which were previously considered to be two distinct species. However, as adults are difficult to distinguish from other
Stigmella species, it is best recorded in the larval stage, when mines can be found in the leaves of Hawthorn; occupied mines can be common in May and June and again between August and September. The mines are described in the following link:
leafmines.co.uk.