Leafmine on Pear (3)

I collected the pear mine from Andrew Kershaw on Monday afternoon and while doing so had a quick look at the tree, on which another (vacated) mine was found which looked to be of the same species.  A selection of pictures was sent to John Langmaid later that day and John has now come back to me to confirm that unfortunately this is 'only' a mine of Stigmella oxyacanthella (a common species found on apple and hawthorn as well as occasionally on pear), so unfortunately not a first for Bucks after all!  While the frass appears to be dark brown or black rather than reddish, in all other respects I can see that the position of the egg, the colour of the larva and the shape of the mine are a perfect match for oxyacanthella.  The larva exited the mine today and is currently in the process of forming a brownish cocoon on some kitchen paper placed under the leaf, so I will still attempt to rear it through.

Complete mine, 16th October

Larva, 16th October

Position of egg (underside of leaf), 16th October

Cocoon, 18th October

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks