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Tag Archives: Field maple

Leaf burst: Field maple

06 Tuesday Apr 2021

Posted by sconzani in leaves, spring, trees

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Tags

British trees, bud burst, Field maple, Field maple bud burst, Field maple leaf burst, leaf burst

Field maple leaves are now bursting out wherever I walk, and they speak truth to the old saying that ‘good things come in small packages’. The tiny buds are exquisitely fashioned, covered in a soft furry outer skin that splits open to reveal the sculptural beauty of the prominent lime-green veins and much-folded pinkish-red blade.

210406 field maple leaf burst (1)
210406 field maple leaf burst (2)
210406 field maple leaf burst (3)
210406 field maple leaf burst (4)
210406 field maple leaf burst (5)
210406 field maple leaf burst (6)

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293/366 Stigmella aceris

19 Monday Oct 2020

Posted by sconzani in autumn, insects, leaves, trees

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Tags

British moths, Field maple, leaf mines on maple, leaf-mining moth larvae, leafminer, Norway maple, Scarce Maple pigmy, Stigmella aceris

I’ve been hunting for leaf mines in recent days, the mines made by the larvae of the micro moth Stigmella aceris, which can be found at this time of year on the leaves of Norway and Field maples. Unfortunately, I haven’t made any finds of my own but my Twitter pal Gareth had the honour of finding the first mines in the Vale of Glamorgan last week so I went and checked out his find site to get a look at the mines for myself.

201019 leafmine (1)

According to the UK Moths website, this moth was classified as rare until 40 years ago, when it began increasing its range ‘dramatically’. It can now be found throughout central and southern England, and also in south Wales – it was found for the first time in Cardiff in November 2019.

201019 leafmine (2)

I’ve never seen the adult moth, which has the common name of Scarce maple pigmy – and probably never will – but you can see a photo of it on the British Lepidoptera weebly site here.

201019 leafmine (3)
201019 leafmine (4)

And now I’m heading out to check more Maple trees before their leaves all fall and turn to mush …

201019 leafmine (5)

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About me

sconzani

sconzani

I'm a writer and photographer; researcher and blogger; birder and nature lover; countryside rambler and city strider; volunteer and biodiversity recorder.

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