Food Plant: Betula (Birch)

Mine: Summer and Autumn

Pupa: outside the mine

Notes: Formerly Messa nana. The mine starts at the tip of a vein at the leaf edge and a plug of frass is left at the start of the mine (as shown in the developing mine). The larva is intially green and then turns a dark yellow colour towards maturity. The larva is intially green and then turns a dark yellow colour towards maturity.
The dorsal view (top photo)shows a large dark plate on the pronotum and the side of the head is darker in colour.The ventral view (middle photo) shows a large dark prosternal plate with smaller meso- and metasternal spots. The legs are banded and dark in colour. In lateral view the dark pronotal plate can be seen and there is also a dark spot in front of the thoracic legs. The anal ring (bottom photo) is dark in colour

Data: 07.vi.2005, Fleet, Hants, VC12

Image:© Rob Edmunds