leaf and seed miners

[bobhelencoan]

Found our first sycamore key feeder. Photo of larva attached. Think it is Pemmene regiana from its head colour.
Also an occupied oak leaf mine. Can it be identified. The egg was on the under side. Bob & Helen

[stevehind]

Hi Bob & Helen

I've never looked for Pammene regiana at this time of year. I doubt I would have your patience searching through all those sycamore keys. I've only ever found it during the winter in its cocoon beneath loose bark.

Have a look at the options under Quercus on the leafmine website for your mine http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Plants/quercus.htm
As far as I can see the continuous narrow frass line and pale brown head rule out all but Stigmella roborella.

Regards
Steve

[bobhelencoan]

We will record the leaf mine as stigmella roborella, another new one for us.
We did not sit going through lots of sycamore keys, it just happened to be on a sample of sycamore taken when looking for other leaf mines. A nice find none the les. Bob & Helen