Psychoides filicivora at Frodsham:
I've just been sent the attached photograph from Roy Hilton of Psychoides filicivora, which emerged on 4th February 2012 from a leaf-mine collected at Frodsham the previous week. The larva of this species, and its relative Psychoides verhuella, both feed on the sporangia of ferns and can be found in sheltered, shady places at this time of year. Hart's-tongue Fern (Phyllitis scolopendrium) is probably the best species to check and I have found numerous larvae along the river valleys and on ferns in the stonework at the base of bridges during recent years. Feeding evidence can be spotted at some distance by the often translucent leaves, where the larva has been mining the leaves.
Regards.
Steve