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Thursday 23 March 2017

Leaf-mines on Luzula

This morning (23/3), Nigel Stringer and I went to Troserch Woods, north of Llangennech in south-east Carms. (a site familiar to Sam who successfully surveyed some steep rock outcrops for bryophytes well over a decade ago). I was hoping to find Elachista regificella which occurs on Luzula sylvatica (greater wood-rush), a plant of steep, ungrazed acidic oakwoods.
We found some leaf-mines but on reaching home and the UK leaf-mines key they did not have the `puckering` of the Elachista concerned.
Carex pendula at the site also had some large leaf-mines which may have been Cerodontha angulata (dipteran) and another dipteran is found on Luzula sylvatica -  Cerondontha luzulae, which may be the best contender. I`m not sure of the status of the latter in Wales. Any comments or corrections will be welcomed - thanks.


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2 comments:

  1. GMT23 March 2017 at 13:30

    I think that probably is a fly mine - if it is occupied then you should be able to tell whether it's a fly or moth by holding the mine up to the light and examining the larva.

    I've only found the mines of regificella later in the spring, in April and May.

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  2. Ian Morgan24 March 2017 at 01:29

    Thanks George - I`ll re-look for regificella later.

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