Wednesday 19 December 2012

Check your evergreens

Whilst the winter wind and rain have swept most leaves from the trees and with it any chance of finding leaf miners, it is still worth checking any Evergreen Oak (Quercus ilex) you happen to be passing as there are mines, both vacated and tenanted, still to be found...

Ectoedemia heringella 

This species is known to be expanding its range, so definitely one worth keeping an eye out for, mines can be plentiful, as illustrated below
Ectoedemia heringella leaf mines
Ectoedemia heringella

Stigmella suberivora
Stigmella suberivoraStigmella suberivora

Dave

Thursday 6 December 2012

Early stages: Phyllonorycter platani

This is the most numerous species I have recorded this year, all as leaf mines and all in urban situations up and down the country, including Leeds, Norwich and all around Canterbury.


Phyllonorycter platani leaf mines in profusion
Phyllonorycter platani leaf mines - underside Phyllonorycter platani larva ex leaf mine As the mines can be quite numerous on each leaf and tend to be quite large too, they can still be located in fallen leaves or are also still visible on leaves that are still clinging on to the tree.


Monday 3 December 2012

Alder Phyll fills out the year list

Although late in the year, still managed to add another to the year list last week in the shape of Phyllonorycter strigulatella leaf mines on Grey Alder.

Phyllonorycter strigulatella leaf mines

Whilst many leaves had already fallen, those that remained held plenty of mines from this species as well as those of P. rajella, P. kleemannella and P. stettinensis.

 Phyllonorycter strigulatella and P. kleemannella leaf mines Phyllonorycter strigulatella (centre) and Phyllonorycter kleemannella leaf mines on Grey Alder Phyllonorycter rajella leaf mine (underside) Phyllonorycter rajella underside Phyllonorycter stettinensis leaf mine Phyllonorycter stettinensis