Ectoedemia heringella

An hour's circuit of local villages this afternoon to look at holm oaks (Quercus ilex) produced many active mines of Ectoedemia heringella on every one inspected, including a few on an isolated road-side tree west of Steeple Claydon, Bucks which had none on it this time last year.  The image below was from a hedge near the church in Quainton, Bucks and shows a typical leaf with several active mines.  A few active and many vacated mines of Phyllonorycter messaniella were also found.  There was no sign of Stigmella suberivora which should also be actively mining now on holm oak.  The species has yet to be discovered in Bucks although it is known from some adjacent counties.
Dave Wilton

Mines of Ectoedemia heringella, Quainton 6th February