Leaf Mines. Moths or Flies ?

[bobhelencoan]

Leaf Mines. Moths or Flies ?

We collected various specimens from the small practice ground at Vicars Cross Golf Club. We found Cinnabar Moth larvae and also Hogweed seed heads with larvae Pammene aurana. Several of the leaf mines we can't ID and feel most are probably not moths anyway. Any ideas and suggestions welcome.

Bob & Helen

[stevehind]

Hi Bob & Helen,

Looking through the keys to the larval cases, Coleophora serratella is the only species on Birch which resembles your first photo.

Mine in leaf tip Silver Birch photo - The frass is not clear enough in this photo. Have a look to see if the frass is coiled. If so then this will be Stigmella sakhalinella.

Window mines on Silver Birch ??? - If you look closely at these, you can see the circular holes where a coleophora larva has attached its case.

Regards,
Steve

[bobhelencoan]

Thanks Steve.

We presume the last two photos are not moth related.

From our other photo it looks as if the frass is coiled but we need to go and find another sample to be positive.
At least we now where and when to look.

Bob & Helen

[stevehind]

The last one could have been made by one of the Hymenopterous species.

Regards,
Steve