Food Plant: Glyceria maxima (Reed Sweet-grass)

Egg: on tip of leaf

Mine: April-May;July-August

Notes: The mine is downwards, towards the stem, and difficult to see. It is initially a pale green (as shown) and later turns brown. When the larvae reach the water-line, they may then mine upwards or swap leaves (and then mine upwards). The frass is scattered in the mine. The pupa is in a slight cocoon, on an unmined leaf, about 60cms above the water line. Found in the borders of steams, ponds etc. Mine in the field on Reed Sweet Grass, on the bottom right leaf of the rosette just left of centre. The reddish colour visible at the base of the mine is not unusual.

Data: 27.iii.2022, Wolvercote Green, Oxfordshire, VC23.

Image:© Will Langdon