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. 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. Habitat with large, lush Phragmites australis growing on the shady, drier edge of a fen. Mines were frequent here, but at this site, were not found on smaller plants growing in the open fen.

Data: 16.x.2021, Oxfordshire, VC22

Image:© Will Langdon