Another Monday, another new leaf mine – they’re never ending!

Now, this may not look like a mine but what’s happened is this: once hatched from its egg, the larva chewed an initial linear mine in the surface on the underside of the leaf – this species uses willow (Salix sp.) and poplar (Populus sp.). Then it munched out a blotch at the edge of the leaf and rolled the edge over to create a cone. As you see here, the larva will often create two or even three cones before it pupates.

These mines and cones are the work of the moth Caloptilia stigmatella. You can see more examples of the mines and get more information on the British Leafminers website here, and see photos of the adult of the species on the UK Moths website here.