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...
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| Stigmella tityrella on Beech |
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| Stigmella oxyacanthella on Hawthorn |
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| Stigmella hybnerella on Hawthorn |
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| Stigmella anomalella on Rose |
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| Leaf-mining at the foot of the Malvern Hills |
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| 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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