Leaf mines are made by the larvae of some micromoths, flies, sawflies and beetles as they feed and grow inside the leaf. Identification of the miner is based on host plant, shape of the mine and sometimes frass pattern. Sometimes larval details or pupal details are required, and in some cases specimens need to be bred through.
Chromatomyia primulae – David Fenwick
Submit records of leaf miner
Recorders are invited to submit details of any leaf miners seen to the National Biodiversity Data Centre through the on-line record submission form. Please attach a photograph (smaller than 0.5Mb) in transmitted light (through the leaf) rather than top light to assist validation. All records received will be reviewed by Stuart Dunlop, and once validated will be included in a special Leaf Miner of Ireland database. Records from the leaf miners database will be made available to other related recording schemes.
Resources
A special Introduction to Leaf Miners guide has been developed by Stuart Dunlop to assist identification. The species taxonomy of leaf miners is constantly changing. To assist submission of records a provisional checklist has also been provided by Stuart, including information on status in Ireland and host plants.