Ectoedemia sp., Westcott 10th July |
Andy Banthorpe kindly pointed me in the direction of Ectoedemia sericopeza and Ectoedemia louisella as likely candidates so I decided to have a look for mines on their food-plants (Norway Maple and Field Maple respectively). Rather than mining the leaves, they burrow into the samaras (winged seeds) of these two trees. On 11th July I managed to find a vacated mine of Ectoedemia sericopeza on our Norway Maple almost immediately, then the following day discovered several mines of Ectoedemia louisella on a Field Maple in our neighbours' hedge, so I now have local records for both species even though I still don't know for sure what that adult was! Neither species appears to be at all common but that may be more to do with under-recording. In Bucks there are a handful of records for each but they are all of adults, suggesting that no-one has made the effort to look for their mines. If present the mines are relatively easy to spot and are visible on both sides of the samara, the one found on Norway Maple being illustrated below. Those on Field Maple look very similar. It is important to be able to locate the egg, which is just about visible in the lower photo (it shows well under a 10x hand lens).
Mine of Ectoedemia sericopeza on Norway Maple |
Mine of Ectoedemia sericopeza on Norway Maple |
Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks
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