Food Plant: Inula conyza (Ploughman’s Spikenard), Pulicaria (Common Fleabane), Eupatorium (Hemp-agrimony)

Mine: August to September, then May to June when on Inula. July to August, then April to May when on Eupatorium.

Notes: Larva mines leaves. On Eupatorium the case is extended at the anal end by adding silk and widened by cutting a ventral gusset. On Inula the case is firstly extended by adding rings of leaf-cuticle at the oral end, before reverting to the method used when on Eupatorium. The full-grown case is 10mm long. Feeding signs are shown above.

Data: Essex

Image:© Brian Goodey