The same book also makes the interesting point that specialist leaf miners on birch have their main population centres on old heaths or other old-established birch-rich localities, with only a few commoner species on new plantings; he makes similar observations with miners on rowan. He cites research showing that many leaf miners have poor colonisation rates (though of course others have strong colonist tendencies). It was with the above in mind that I went to look for the birch-mining Ectoedemia occultella this afternoon, having read of Sam`s find in Monmouth (see his blog), though Ectoedemia is actually one that does colonise new habitat. I went to the closest old heath site - a small raised bog near Fforest/Pont Abraham, where young birches abound at the edge of the bog. Having got there, I accessed this site by my usual route via an old Sphagnum-filled peat cutting but, as I climbed out of this cutting onto the bog, I was disappointed to see that the birches had all shed their leaves! I found a very small number of saplings back in the cutting with some leaves but only a few common mines were present.
As the site was in SN50 and not as well worked as my home square of SN40, I continued to leaf mine, collecting quite a few to go through tomorrow (rain is forecast), but two stood out in the field. I`d been looking for Stigmella samiatella on sweet chestnut for some time and, as the plantation upslope and next to the bog had plenty of these trees, a search was made. I actually found what I believe is it (after many, many leaves) and only after giving up, when it was spotted by chance. Photo below:
I also discovered Acrolepia autumnitella on bittersweet Solanum dulcamara, another leaf miner that I`d been looking for. The very pallid green larvae can be seen with the aid of a hand lens and I`ll try to take a photo of one tomorrow and add it to this blog. I also later found this leaf mine at two (of four) other sites later this afternoon (Pwll lagoon SSSI and Stradey Woods). Photos below:
Well done Ian, you had quite a full day with some great finds.
ReplyDeleteInteresting point about the colonisation rates. I've heard good things about the Shropshire moth book, maybe I should treat myself to a copy.
ReplyDeleteA autumnitella is usually quite frequent on bittersweet but the mines of Scrobipalpa costella seem much harder to find despite the moth being quite frequent in light traps.
Your Scrobipalpa comment is exactly what is said in the Shropshire book George.
DeleteRe the hypothesis of long-established `primary` sites having a more diverse leaf miner assemblage, it may be possible to have leaf miner equivalents of the (not fail-safe!) `ancient woodland indicators` in plant terms. Perhaps `indicator` is the important word.
To add to your inland migrant woes, I had a Vestal in Brechfa last night. Will blog later.
ReplyDeleteInland Carms does seem remarkably good for migrants. Those trapping well inland in Glamorgan don't seem to get many migrants at all (and I get relatively few in Cardiff, though some others do better locally).
ReplyDeleteAlso worth noting re your comment about old established sites with plenty of birch, such as heaths - part of the reason for the leafminer diversity at these sites may be the nature of the sites themselves. Some miners (and other non-mining leps too) seem to specialise in stunted, stressed trees growing on bogs and heaths. I've done some work on Whixall-Bettisfield Mosses this year and the diversity of rare leps which feed on birch at the site is remarkable. Most of these occur on small, stunted trees which are presumably nutrient stressed.
ReplyDeleteInteresting points George. Whixall Moss (in terms of the re-wetting programme) is discussed at some length in the afore-mentioned Shropshire micro book - you`ll enjoy reading it. Get yourself a copy - I had mine as a Christmas present last year.
ReplyDeleteBack in Carms, a site (amongst others!)that is absolutely crying out for investigation of its moth fauna is Cors Goch Llanllwch, both in terms of daytime visits re leaf miners etc and also trapping. I`m sure that moth `goodies` are to be found at this raised bog just W of Carmarthen town. Perhaps something for the Wildlife Trust to embark upon in conjunction with others?