Food Plant: Aster tripolium (Sea Aster)

Mine: Jun -July; Sept-Oct

Notes: Forms a linear mine which is mainly upper surface but it starts lower surface. Frass grains are large and irregular. Pupariation occurs within the mine (as shown). Spencer (1972, 1976) states that the puparium is white with front spiracula penetrating the epidermis but Warrington (pers. comm) also found that on pupariation the anterior spiracles went black straight away, then within an hour or so, the whole puparium was black. The exuviae are shown. A widespread coastal species.

Data: x.2017, Hessle, South-east Yorkshire, VC61

Image:© Barry Warrington