On Fire(thorn)!


I took delivery this morning of 'Micro-moth Field Tips' by Ben Smart and immediately had a flick through the book. For micro novices like myself, he has thoughtfully divided up the pages into monthly sections, so a peruse of January and February has already given me plenty of projects for the next few weeks. My attention was taken by a page devoted to Phyllonorycter leucographella, a micro that can be found in its larval state at this time of year on Firethorn (Pyracantha). Now, my neighbours have a splendid Pyracantha growing around, and over, their front door - why not nip out and take a look? The photographs in Ben's book had already alerted me as to what to look for - white, papery mines on the upper side of the leaf - so more in hope than expectation the short walk to next door's Firethorn was made. A quick check revealed a number of likely candidates.

Everything seemed to match up with what I had read. Even if the mine was untenanted, then at least I could record the presence of this species for the garden. However, my own self-imposed rules to be able to allow the species onto my list (going for the 1,000 remember) is to observe a living creature. I held the leaf up to the light, hand lens in hand, not really expecting that the first leaf on the very first attempt would reveal a larva burrowing away inside, but.... bloody hell, there it was, a dead ringer for the book's illustration (black abdominal markings all present and correct, pictured below), moving around before my eye. A few hurried images were then taken. It cannot always be as easy as this, can it?

874 Firethorn Leaf Miner (Phyllonorycter leucographella)

and another;
875 Phyllonorycter lantanella


Comments

Gibster said…
Excellent start! It's very common in the London area, in fact there's probably not a single Pyracantha bush over 2 years old that doesn't have it in the more central areas.
11 January 2020 at 18:20
Steve Gale said…
Seth, a lot of this micro journey will involve me recording very common species for the first time. They will be hiding in plain sight!
11 January 2020 at 19:57
martinf said…
I need to dig Ben Smart's book out and take a better look...
11 January 2020 at 21:29
Steve Gale said…
It is indeed a fine resource Martin
12 January 2020 at 08:10
Skev said…
Have a look out for 'A Field Guide to the Smaller Moths of GB & Ireland' too by Langmaid, Palmer & Young. Got any Holm Oak near you? Go and look anytime for evidence of three species that should be around where you are: Ectoedemia heringella (should be tenanted in next month or so), Stigmella suberivora (could be tenanted now) and Phyllonorycter messaniella (should be tenanted early spring).
12 January 2020 at 13:51
Gibster said…
Manor Green Road in Epsom has several large Holm Oaks, Steve. I've had all 3 of the species Skev mentions along there.
12 January 2020 at 14:00
Steve Gale said…
Thanks for the heads up Skev. As for the book recommendation, I bought it at the same time as Smart.

On my way Seth...
12 January 2020 at 15:13
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