Food Plant: Ilex (Holly)

Mine: Univoltine - Summer to Spring

Pupa: The pupa forms inside the mine.

Notes: Initially in mid-rib then upper surface blotch. Only miner on Holly. Widespread throughout. The early mine is green (as shown). The oviposition scars can be seen on the midrib (underside of the leaf) for this species. Occasionally long thin mines (reminiscent of Lyonetia clerkella) are seen - Hering (1957) thought they were due to parasitism of the ilicis larva, but research by Ellis (2000) indicated that the cause was crushing of the larva by callus formation before it was able to form a blotch. Sometimes a larva will break free from this thin gallery and form a blotch (Ellis, pers. comm). The mines (as shown) with a strong central frass line can resemble those of Phytomyza jucunda on this host but critically the anterior spiracles, which protrude through the epidermis, differ. In P.ilicis they are pointed whereas in P.jucunda they strongly bifurcate, looking rather like snail's tentacles!

Data: ii.2019, Hessle, South-east Yorkshire, VC61

Image:© Barry Warrington