It's that time of year when people like picking things off vegetation, and it's no different for lepidopterists. Leaf-mines (feeding chambers created by the larvae of insects) are at their most apparent in autumn as caterpillars feed-up before pupating in leaf-litter, ready to emerge next spring.
In the world of moths, leaf-mines are highly regarded. The patterns created and the tree species with which the mine is associated are unique to each species, meaning that larval workings provide the most hassle-free method of identifying many otherwise problematic groups (i,e. genus
Stigmella &
Phyllonorycter).
Some are harder to find than others, but rummage through a large deciduous tree and you'll quickly tally up a good list of species...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIoLMFQURwGee5hmJDXf7Tak6qUZIySW6638VYtDvz4VwvsoMiMV74POMBoB4Kfr547JQFuhinHd-tSjZFu7uJUuaocREm9wQetRNvBufArBT52q07tgVsrUGfEdyXJXwF_xBfWjBg5g1/s1600/Stigmella+tityrella.jpg) |
Stigmella tityrella on Beech |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEishhyphenhyphenHPZKRws-IwzDS6KrdFNQ2eowUpMiL-Kk5djVymovZzp3MaZps_ULJrC3FX_Ba4cGfOvZm4x7_V1wbvhLotGRoGQjA9humCDpQhwV2ZUnOjkWwuSI5ecqdVITNdLHZGDepT6cRI_P_/s1600/Stigmella+oxyacanthella.jpg) |
Stigmella oxyacanthella on Hawthorn |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojtTkJ8DGfNxfUABl7zVdRFaXIv_mKWhisD_gULRDzRl6VHw84iNTByKMUB255pxah4CG2J7q8oZWfZSS_s9yPptU9Li3AffbF6lZGPpQ6CvRZR44tsEEjQ1beLX07KDUtoHfNT1Bwl2q/s1600/Stigmella+hybnerella.jpg) |
Stigmella hybnerella on Hawthorn |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3o7heFbdk5SwPc8BXKWL_ayLZVR9IZaw47DgnzFka4Vbdn_FXv3TZOmGP4-urfi3d1BxI5U9hOr96EQEJSgECXFLwEzHYTQMY6vaovF2bymwtB-rn08hOEGse17Mia6_r35b10_pIPbuT/s1600/stigmella+anomalella.jpg) |
Stigmella anomalella on Rose |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-eVMpMMsz92c_wsoPgHuM78WloeSZHzWe4oiM4XtBYTjAvhFp94ZnuW9aEbKmez-bOffSdwph8beG0khIfoP7mszXVw6KiNFOcamvKZo3TqSUsBtlt7w1rqupxFYZZ-kA356Evo5KAlx/s1600/trees.jpg) |
Leaf-mining at the foot of the Malvern Hills |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgytmgpQ3G5aXHxoXU48DqEl9zXXTCjzqGdR9pT8VShSriJ67hB0yYs4MbgCK_pyCqicrgsVKnuQ4tznHtGPdrwSINXsCNhZdThvWl55-Fr9dLQeffLMVWVQ7zEkHfIUsfaYZ92ULiWuob3/s1600/Malvern.jpg) |
It was foggy |
1 comment:
The last three mines are ones I have yet to see. Maps do not favour finding one in Devon but who knows.
Currently got a Diurnea fagella caterpillar in it's tent with a small larva piggybacking on it. Hope to rear a tachinid off it. Fascinating.
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