Leaf-mines on Poppy & Sweet Pea

These leaf mines are caused by the larvae of small flies burrowing through the leaves. Miners are specific to different families of plant. The pea leaf mine, Liriomyza pisivora, is one I haven’t recorded previously in the garden.

#1022 Liriomyza pisivora on Sweet Pea

#616 Chromatomyia horticola on Poppy

More Leaf Mines

Here are a couple more leaf mines, this time both are from flies. Phytomyza angelicastri is a leaf-miner found on wild angelica and also, as in this case, on Ground Elder. This is the first mine I’ve noticed here on Ground Elder, and is a new species for the garden. The similar-looking mine (but more “random” in direction) on Aquilegia (Columbine) is from Phytomyza minuscula. Many of these miners are very specific which leaves they will go for.

#974 Phytomyza angelicastri

#121 Phytomyza minuscula

Holly Leaf-miner (Phytomyza ilicis, #914)

My first new species for a while, mainly due to my being busy and not spending enough time outside. This leaf mine contains the larva of a small fly, Phytomyza ilicis; the only UK leaf mine found on European Holly.

#914 Holly Leaf-miner (Phytomyza ilicis)