Key for the identification of the known mines of British
insects (Diptera and non-Diptera) recorded on Pinus
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1a > Leaf-miner
and case-bearer: The larva lives in a silken tube, covered with fragments of bark
and lichen on the bark of the older part of a branch. From this
tube the larva mines the basal half of a number of leaves. The larva
moults in the tube, and pupates in a side branch of it.. |
On Picea, but not yet on Pinus, in
Britain and Abies and Picea elsewhere. Widepread
in Britain and continental Europe.
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Batrachedra
pinicolella (Zeller, 1839) [Lepidoptera: Batrachedridae]. |
1b > Leaf-miner: A relatively large, ribbed, oval egg is deposited near the base
of the needle, on the outer, convex, side. The emerging larva at
first makes a wavy, epidermal, corridor, running in the direction
of the needle tip. Soon the gallery becomes deeper and fills the
entire needle. The larva works itself to close to the tip of the
needle; the mine behind it is almost completely filled with frass.
Pupation external; the exit opening is just under the tip, in the
flat side of the needle.
The
range-red larva feeds internally in a needle, working its way from the base
to the tip. It may then feed externally in a slight web. Pupation in a white cocoon on the ground. The pupa is initially green, then
darkens as it matures. |
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On Pinus in Britain and elsewhere. A widespread but local
species occurring over much of England and Scotland in its favoured
habitat, pine woodland. Widespread in continental Europe.
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Cedestis
gysseleniella Zeller, 1839 [Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae]. |
1c > Leaf-miner: A
species associated with coniferous woodland, which feeds internally
on the needles.
Oviposition
on the tip of the flat side of the needle; the egg is oval, smooth,
with a characteristic longitudinal keel. From here the mine descends,
full depth, towards the base of the needle. The space behind the
larva is completely filled with granular frass. The larval chamber
is so transparant that the larva inside is easily visible. The larva
vacates the mine prior to pupation by a round opening near the end
of the mine. Pupation in a white cocoon on the ground. The pupa is initially green, then
darkens as it matures. |
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On Pinus in Britain and elsewhere. Fairly well distributed
throughout Britain, though less common in the north and west.
Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland. Widespread in continental
Europe.
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Cedestis
subfasciella (Stephens, 1834) [Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae]. |
1d > Leaf-miner: The
larvae feed internally on the needles, overwintering in this stage.
The
mine begins in the tip of a needle, and descends towards the base.
The larva hibernates in its first needle. After hibernation the
larva bores through the bud scales into the base of young needles,
causing them to drop. Pupation outside the mine. |
On Pinus in Britain and elsewhere. Widely distributed in
England and Wales. Widespread in continental Europe.
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Clavigesta
purdeyi (Durrant, 1911) [Lepidoptera: Tortricidae]. |
1e > Leaf-miner: The larva feeds inside the apical part of the needle in the autumn
and ejects most of the frass from holes at either end of the mine.
After hibernation it then feeds on spun needles and shoots.
The
larva enters the needle at about three quarter of its length, at
the flat side; the opening is closed with silk (picture above).
From here the larva mines upwards (rarely also a small distance
downwards).The larva lives in a spacious larval chamber in the lowest
part of the mine, lined with stripes of dense spinning. The frass
is accumulated in the apical part of the mine. Sometimes one, more
rarely two, openings are made to eject part of the frass; these
openings too are closed with silk, and are difficult to find. No
egg shell is visible at the start of the mine. The larva hibernates
in the mine; in the following spring it feeds on the shoots and
in spun needles (Hering, 1957a). Pupation external, in a bud (Freeman,
1960a).. |
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On Larix and Pinus in Britain and elsewhere. Widespread
in Britain, Ireland and continental Europe.
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Exoteleia
dodecella (Linnaeus, 1758) [Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae]. |
1f > Leaf-miner: The
larva feeds within the needle from the tip to base and exits close
to the base.
The
mine begins at an oval egg on the flat side of the tip of a needle.
Working from here the larva mines the needle for about one quarter
of its length. Apart from the larval chamber, the entire mine is
filled with frass. The full grown larva leaves the mine by an opening
made at the end of te mine, then forms a cocoon between a few needles
that have been spun together. Only the pupa enables discrimination
from O. piniarella. |
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On Pinus in Britain and elsewhere. Widespread in Britain
and continental Europe. Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland.
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Ocnerostoma
friesei Svensson, 1966 [Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae]. |
1g > Leaf-miner: The
larva feeds within the needle from the tip to base.
The
mine begins in the tip of a needle, and descends to about three
quarter of its length. With the exception of the larval chamber
the entire mine is filled with frass, giving the needle a vinous
colour. The mine is so transparant the the larva is visible in its
chamber (Hering, 1957a). The full grown larva leaves the mine by
making an opening, then forms an elongate cocoon out of silk between
a few spun needles (Koch, 1932a; Freeman, 1960a). Pupation in a white cocoon between spun needles. |
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On Pinus in Britain and elsewhere. The distribution of
this species is not fully understood due to confusion with the
very similar Ocnerostoma
friesei, but is believed to be relatively widespread in
much of England and Scotland. Widespread in continental Europe.
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Ocnerostoma
piniariella Zeller, 1847 [Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae]. |