When it comes to identifying leaf-miners the most important thing is to have an accurate identification of the host plant. The next most important thing is to take a back-lit image of the leaf so that you can clearly see the interior of the mine (so that the larva and the pattern made by its frass are visible).
I'm not very good with smaller plants but maybe someone else will be able to identify your host (a Cirsium spp??).
Unfortunately moths aren't the only things which mine leaves and some flies, saw-flies, beetles and wasps do so as well, although with a bit of experience it is fairly easy to separate out the mines of each of these groups which each have different characteristics. Your example looks to me like a fly mine.
I agree with Marc's suggestion. If you add the record and photos to iRecord they will get checked by Barry Warrington who runs the recording scheme for leaf-mining flies. They're not always easy to confirm, and there have been a lot of new species discovered recently, but Barry will be able to say whether it is identifiable or not. He would probably say the same as Dave has about the need to know the foodplant and the disirability of getting an image that shows the contents of the mine.
Hello Alan,
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to identifying leaf-miners the most important thing is to have an accurate identification of the host plant. The next most important thing is to take a back-lit image of the leaf so that you can clearly see the interior of the mine (so that the larva and the pattern made by its frass are visible).
I'm not very good with smaller plants but maybe someone else will be able to identify your host (a Cirsium spp??).
Unfortunately moths aren't the only things which mine leaves and some flies, saw-flies, beetles and wasps do so as well, although with a bit of experience it is fairly easy to separate out the mines of each of these groups which each have different characteristics. Your example looks to me like a fly mine.
Looks like a fly mine in Sonchus (oleraceus?), possibly Chromatomyia 'atricornis' ? BW, Marc
ReplyDeleteThanks both. Think plant is Sonchus oleraceus.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Marc's suggestion. If you add the record and photos to iRecord they will get checked by Barry Warrington who runs the recording scheme for leaf-mining flies. They're not always easy to confirm, and there have been a lot of new species discovered recently, but Barry will be able to say whether it is identifiable or not. He would probably say the same as Dave has about the need to know the foodplant and the disirability of getting an image that shows the contents of the mine.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks Martin. Will do.
ReplyDelete