The leaf and stem mines of British flies and other insects
 

(Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera)

by Brian Pitkin, Willem Ellis, Colin Plant and Rob Edmunds

 

HEDERA. Ivy. [Araliaceae]


Five species and three subspecies of Hedera are recorded in Britain. These include the native Ivy (H. helix) and Atlantic Ivy (H. hibernica). The BSBI provide a downloadable plant crib for Hedera.

Only one British miner is recorded on Hedera.

A key to the European miners recorded on Hedera is provided in Bladmineerders van Europa.

Ivy - Hedera helix. Image: © Linda Pitkin
Ivy
Hedera helix



Key for the identification of the known mines of British
insects (Diptera and non-Diptera) recorded on Hedera


1 > Leaf-miner: In the first instar the larva mines the leaves, forming short, irregular, blotch-like mines, but in later instars it lives externally, feeding in spun leaves and often twisting those of tender shoots. Larval head light-brown or yellowish brown, edged with black postero-laterally, ocellar area blackish; prothoracic plate black edged with whitish anteriorly; abdomen dull dark green; pinacula distinct, black, sometimes brownish but with black bases to setae; anal plate large, black (Bradley et al., 1973). Small, full depth mine without a definite shape; little frass. Some silk is deposited in the mine. The larva soon leaves the mine and continues feeding among spun leaves.

Polyphagous. On numerous genera and species of plant families, but not yet on Hedera, in Britain. On numerous genera and species of plant families including Hedera elsewhere. Widespread in Britain and continental Europe. Also recorded from the Channel Is.

Cnephasia incertana (Treitschke, 1835) [Lepidoptera: Tortricidae].



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