Populus tremula, South England; green islands © Rob Edmunds

larva in the mine

larva in the petiole

mine

Oviposition on the petiole, c. 1 cm below the base of the leaf. The larva begins its life as a borer in the petiole, causing it to swell somewhat. When the leaf disc is reached the larva makes an elongate blotch between the midrib and the first lateral vein. Frass in two stripes parallel to the sides of the mine. Pupation external.

The larvae are active mainly at night, retreating into the petiole during daytime (Johansson ao, 1990a).

host plants

Salicaceae, narrowly monophagous

Populus tremula.

phenology

Larvae in the petioles already in September, making leaf mines in October – November; mines in green islands, also in fallen leaves (Hering, 1957a). The larva hibernates in the soil, un a silken cocon, and pupates in the spring.

BENELUX

BE recorded (Phegea, 2009).

NE recorded (Kuchlein & de Vos, 1999a; Microlepidoptera.nl, 2009).

LUX not recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2009).

distribution within Europe

All Europe, except the Iberian Peninsula and the Mediterranean Islands (Fauna Europaea, 2009).larva

notes

Almost fully parthenogenetic (van Nieukerken, A & Z Laštuvka, 2010a).

synonyms

Nepticula, Trifurcula, argyropeza.

references

Anisimovas, Diškus & Stonis (2006a). Bengtsson (2008a), Borkowski (1969a), Buhr (1936a, 1964a, 1965a), Buszko & Baraniak (1989a), Buszko & Beshkov (2004a), Černý (2001a), Dauphin & Aniotsbehere (1997a), Delplanque (1998a), Deschka & Wimmer (2000a), Deutsch (2012a), Diškus & Stonis (2012a), Emmet (1971a), Gustafsson (1985a), Gustafsson & van Nieukerken (1990a), Haase (1942a), Hartig (1939a), Hering (1923a, 1931b, 1935a, 1957a), Huber (1969a), Johansson ao (1990a), Klimesch (1936a, 1950c, 1958c), Kuchlein & Donner (1993a), Kurz (2016a), Lambinon, Carbonnelle & Claerebout (2015a), Laštůvka & Laštůvka (1997a, 2019a), van Nieukerken (1985a, 1986a, 2006a), van Nieukerken, A & Z Laštuvka (2006a, 2010a), van Nieukerken, Zolotuhin & Mistchenko (2004a), De Prins (1998a), De Prins & Steeman (2011a), Redfern & Shirley (2011a), Robbins (1991a), Schmid (29019a), Schütze (1931a), Sefrová (2005a), Skala (1939a), Skala & Zavřel (1945a), Sønderup (1949a), Szőcs (1977a, 1978a, 1981a), Tomasi (2014a), Wieser & Huemer (1999a), Wullaert (2015a), Zoerner (1969a).