Leaf Mining Days

Last Sunday, 6th Nov, we met up in Millennium Wood for a leaf mining search. Leaf mines are marks left on leaves from where moth, fly and beetle caterpillars and larvae eat their way around the leaf, between the 2 layers. By autumn these tracks have become clearly visible as the leaf fades to autumnal colours. 10 children, accompanied by adults, spent an hour wander ing around the wood, collecting bags of leaves to be checked. Between Graeme Smith and myself we managed to identify 20 species of micro moth from the leaves discovered.
To identify these firstly you need to know the tree from which the leaf was taken and then each caterpillar makes a track that is often specific to that species. www.leafminers.co.uk is a most helpful site to help with identification.
I then spent time in local woods where I have run moth traps to add to the year list. Still have several larger woods to check in the next few days, before all the leaves disappear.

Millennium Wood path

Guelder rose berries

Glorious morning in the wood

Leaf mine on hazel of Phyllonorycter coryli, the nut blister moth

On hazel, Phyllonorycter nicellii

Stigmella aceris on field maple

Several species have mined this hazel leaf.