Rob Edmunds
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vc28nature.bsky.social
Rob Edmunds
@vc28nature.bsky.social
41 followers 41 following 49 posts
Leafmines/leafmines.co.uk/interested in nature
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I did mean confusella- thanks
The larva is dead but it looks like speciosa (deceased!)
Thanks for posting this Pieter. It is possibly in the UK now.
Mines look very similar to Stigmella continuella but naturnella lays egg either side of a leaf and the original gallery is green. So if you see a ‘continuella’ mind with an upper surface egg and initial gallery green you found naturnella!
Reposted by Rob Edmunds
Stigmella naturnella was discovered only recently in the low countries (nl.pensoft.net/article/99360/) but in my region (Ghent, Belgium) it already seems to be the most common birch #leafminer. It probably spread naturally from S Central Europe. Here's how the mines look.

#mothsmatter #teammoth
Reposted by Rob Edmunds
A great resource made more accessible by @britentsoc.bsky.social - thanks
Yesterday, @britentsoc.bsky.social published the 4th edition of the popular Field Guide to the Smaller Moths of Great Britain and Ireland. Completely updated and free to download in 3 digital formats: PDF, spreadsheet, and an Android App! Further details at www.benhs.org.uk/publications... #TeamMoth
A FIELD GUIDE TO THE SMALLER MOTHS OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND (4th Edition-Digital) - British Entomological & Natural History Society
www.benhs.org.uk
You could try rearing it Ruth
Cut out a small area with the cocoon and place onto sterile soil (which is on a layer of sterile sand - as ballast),
Place outside in sheltered spot and bring in next March. Here’s hannoverella last year and doing the same now for turbidella. Don’t forget drain holes!
Possibly Steve but too old to be sure
Arrived this morning and looks an interesting read - Norfolk Bird and Mammal Report 2024. A huge effort to publish it so promptly and beautifully illustrated!
The new leafmine site update is now out. Has many excellent photos including some rarely seen eg Dialectica imperialella, Scrobipalpula tusdilaginis and Stigmella spinosissimae. Others more common. The amazing spiracles of Cerodontha iraeaos - like cow horns! www.leafmines.co.uk/html/updates...
The frass line looks too thick for roborella
Can you let it develop further
Should be ok. You can identify the pupa by its cremasters, which saves breeding it
Several Diptera mine Reed and usually need breeding to id. They are usually parasitised!
This is not fully developed Ruth and I don’t think it’s lautella. You find lautella on low growing saplings and the mine causes the leaf to hunch up in a tube, which is quite long. There are usually several lautella mines in a leaf
Reposted by Rob Edmunds
Hedgehog Harvestman Nemastomella bacilliferum, Plymouth, Devon, this very distinctive but tiny harvestman is found at several sites around the city. It has not been found anywhere else in the UK but may be overlooked? It is usually found sat on the underside of rocks lying on the ground.
The third is Stigmella atricapitella (note dark head of larva). With the others the larva is dead or exited so cannot id.
Well done Les.
Found three Ectoedemia hannoverella on Black Poplar today walking back from town
It’s roborella Les. atricapitella larvae have dark heads
Yes I tried it - it doesn’t sting!