With 69 species of micro-moth already identified in the garden at their leaf-mining stage, it is not often that I add a new one to the garden list nowadays so to locate the 70th on our hornbeam hedge yesterday was a cause for celebration. The hedge was planted about 15 years ago and was soon being used by Stigmella microtheriella (already present here on hazel) and Phyllonorycter messaniella. In 2020 I discovered a batch of active mines from Phyllonorycter esperella and more were seen yesterday along with a single active mine of Phyllonorycter tenerella (the new addition).
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| Mine of Phyllonorycter esperella on hornbeam Westcott 22nd September |
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| Mine of Phyllonorycter esperella on hornbeam Westcott 22nd September |
The first image above shows the whole leaf, with the active upper-surface blotch mine of Phyllonorycter esperella visible at top right. On the lower half of the leaf is a vacated corridor mine of Stigmella microtheriella. The second image is a back-lit close-up of the esperella mine in which the larva can be seen.
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| Mine of Phyllonorycter tenerella on hornbeam Westcott 22nd September |
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| Mine of Phyllonorycter tenerella on hornbeam Westcott 22nd September |
The mine of Phyllonorycter tenerella is between veins on the lower surface of the leaf. The first image of this pair gives a view of the upper surface while the second shows the lower surface with one strong crease present. I had assumed that this was actually a vacated mine because of the damage to part of the lower surface which could have been from where an adult moth had emerged, so I didn't take a back-lit view, but between the three or four images which I did take it is possible to see the shadow of the caterpillar moving about. It isn't clear here, but the larva is actually at the top of the mine just to the right of the crease.
Dave Wilton Westcott, Bucks
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