#Leafmining
I reminded myself today that leafmining is a year round pastime, with finds of Phyllonorycter leucographella on Pyracantha sp, Chromatomyia ramosa on Teasel, Phytomyza chaerophylli on Cow parsley, & Euleia heraclei on Alexanders. #Leafmining #TeamLeafmine
February 1, 2025 at 7:47 PM
More ‘mining’ this evening, this time Etainia sericopeza on samara of Norway Maple!
I’m enjoying myself far too much with this leafmining malarkey 🤪
#Teammoth

@pertonmoths.bsky.social
@vc39moths.bsky.social
June 13, 2026 at 7:47 PM
Leafmining today in Scarborough produced several mines of Ectoedemia heringella on Holm Oak.
Appears to be a new record for the whole of the Yorkshire coast if my ID is correct!
@vc28nature.bsky.social
@doublekidney.bsky.social

#Teammoth
August 28, 2026 at 5:45 PM
Thank you for the info and the link Andrew, both are very much appreciated.
I've not got much experience with Sawflies in general. I know a few species especially the leafmining ones.
September 24, 2026 at 7:16 PM
please, I just want to build a list of Ficus-associated subcortical beetle larvae without getting into my signature science angle of poop and butts
May 15, 2026 at 4:38 PM
Productive couple of hours leafmining after work. Stigmella regiella (Purple-shot Dot) & Paraswammerdamia nebulella (Hawthorn Drab) on same Hawthorn leaf, S. basiguttella (Shoulder-spot Dot) on oak, Lyonetia clerkella (Apple Leaf-miner) on Apple & S. speciosa (Beautiful Sycamore Dot) #teammoth
September 24, 2026 at 7:42 PM
Happy New Year! Final🏆My Moth Oscars 2024 is Best Mothing. Winner= Chippenham Fen (📷) with Mark Hows (137 spp incl 5 macro lifers)🥇Shortlist= Weeting Heath with James Symonds (196 spp), leafmining at Aston Rowant & Branscombe with Will Langdon, Dawlish Warren with Barry Henwood & Phil Dean #teammoth
January 1, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Leafmining on this mornings dog walk. Think I've found Phyllonorycter oxyacanthae on Hawthorn. #leafmines #teammoth
December 3, 2024 at 11:05 AM
Yet more leafmining today in Scarborough, with a shed load more mines of Phyllocnistis xenia found! More than 50 mines counted on this small clump of Grey Poplar!!
Clearly they do like to be beside the seaside 😄
@doublekidney.bsky.social

#Teammoth
August 28, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Oh, I think its been accepted locally round here, "leafmining?", "Yep!", 😁🤪
July 3, 2026 at 5:46 PM
As well as today's leafmining successes, I also saw my first Dingy skipper of the year (I adore these little guys! 💚 ) and I found some new bugs, these colourful little Rhopalus subrufus. #lepidoptera #UKButterflies #Heteroptera
April 27, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Leafmining this morning and pretty sure this is Stigmella assimilella. On Aspen. and a Phyllonorycter comparella on a Grey Poplar. Not many Staffs records of either. @vc28nature.bsky.social Rob could you check for me please before they go on irecord. Thanks #teammoth
October 18, 2025 at 9:47 AM
The CUL lure produced another 3 Pammene argyrana (probably). Leafmining came up with Eriocrania sangii ? Thought the leaf fold/cone might be a caloptilia or parornix then this tiny little Yellow Horned caterpillar crawled out 😊 #teammoth
April 29, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Monday 12th May
The leafmining season as finally kicked off. These 2 were both found along the Kelvin Walkway ;
Orchestes fagi (Weevil) on Beech.
Agromyza alnibetulae (Diptera) on Birch.
It's always worthwhile getting a backlit shot to show the frass pattern as this can aid in the id.
May 14, 2025 at 2:16 PM
For people interested in leafmines, I made a folder with some #Lepidoptera #leafmine pics from Belgium on my flickr, hope to add more in the future: flic.kr/s/aHBqjAYEES
Leafmining Lepidoptera
A collection of pictures of leafmines, cases and other signs of immature microlepidoptera, mainly from Belgium.
flic.kr
March 14, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Yes! I know, right? They like leafminer larvae, so they actively seek out mined leaves in trees and presumably drag the larvae out and munch them. (Evidence so far is they will use both some leafmining caterpillars and fly larvae but we are looking into this more.)
September 16, 2026 at 5:46 PM
Empty trap, not exactly surprised but ever hopeful 🙂. Resorted to leafmining in the rain, another one of those Oak Stigmella's and a Stigmella microtheriella on Hornbeam.
November 24, 2024 at 9:42 AM
A little leaf fossicking during today's walk turned up a Coleophora gryphipennella case on Field rose &, nearby, several mines caused by larvae of the weevil Orchestes alni, a new one for me. Most mines were empty but I opened one to see the larva. #leafmining #coleophora #weevil
April 27, 2025 at 5:47 PM
😆😅
I think it’s actually Mr Gallis and all his leafmining activities that’s been the main catalyst!!!
June 4, 2026 at 9:26 AM
This is a useful resource for helping to identify adult Phyllonorycter spp. lithocolletinae.linnaeus.naturalis.nl/linnaeus_ng/...
Lithocolletinae of North-West Europe
Multi-entry identification key to the Lithocolletinae leafmining moths of North-West Europe.
lithocolletinae.linnaeus.naturalis.nl
September 7, 2024 at 9:57 PM
I was summoned with an urgent-sounding “Dad, come here quick!”
So of course, I sprinted over as fast as my longs legs could carry me 🤣😁
Leafmining then continued at a leisurely pace, while the rest of the clan continued on towards the cafe. The perfect scenario really 🤪
August 29, 2026 at 2:36 PM
😂 a slippery slope once you start leafmining and you'll end up looking at leaves everytime you go out....even on trees surrounding supermarket car parks etc...once you have got used to the quizzical looks of passers by you'll be well away. A useful tip.....ignore them and carry on😂
August 7, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Just a note of caution leafmining is addictive 😁
December 18, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Needs to get under the microscope for a better look, but I might have Stigmella atricapitella on Oak. Egg underside, looks like it has dark "prothoracic sclerites"? Only one found today with somebody home. Leafmining in Endon, takes me a while to clear mum in-laws path of leaves!! 😁 #teammoth
November 1, 2025 at 3:27 PM