Food Plant: Eriophorum angustifolium (Cotton-grass)

Mine: September-May

Notes: Mines the stem and lower leaf in the autumn, then overwinters in the mine. In Spring the leaf is mined, initially in the reddish basal part then into the green part of the leaf. The mine is from 20-65mm long. The mine is hidden and frass filled. It then pupates in a cocoon in detritus or in the leaf. The habitat is damp moors, fens and salt marshes. Mines are quite opaque 9bottom photo), and strong backlighting is required to reveal the larva clearly (top photo). Its outline is just visible at the top of this mine. Adults reared and larvae DNA barcoded to confirm ID.

Data: 07.i.2022, Westhay Moor, Somerset, VC6

Image:© Will Langdon