The Ox-eyes have it

Lots of very active larvae of Bucculatrix nigricomella on the Oxeye Daisy plants in the garden this week: both of young, mining larvae and later free-living stages. This species took my 2014 total to over 50, achieved by the last day of February.

Early stages: Bucculatrix nigricomella

Another one to watch out for right now:

Found several active mines of Bucculatrix nigricomella on Ox-eye Daisy and some of these have already moved to the free-living larvae stage.


Mine



Tenanted mine with well-grown larva.  Windowing from grazing is visible near the tip of the leaf.


Free-living larva

Dave