Food Plant: Phragmites australis (Common Reed)

Mine: August-April

Notes: A straight mine which widens. Frass is at one end of the mine and also ejected. Usually one mine in a leaf, but may be more (as shown). The larva is seen above and spins a tube at the base of the mine and hides there. The larva overwinters in the mine. First discovered in 1996 in Dorset. Seems to prefer drier situations such as Alder carr.

National Status: Nationally Scarce A

Bradley No: 896a

Data: 18.ix.2009, Great Salterns NR Portsmouth, Hants, VC11

Image:© John Langmaid