Leafmines

There was a Bucks Invertebrate Group (BIG) meeting at my reserve today to look at leafmines, the distinctive patterns made in leaves by the tiny larvae of moths, flies and sawflies. Identifying the plant concerned and then looking carefully at patterns made in the leaf and, sometimes, details of the larva itself can lead to the discovery of tiny insects that are rarely encountered as adults. I think 30-40 lepidopteran species were identified today, including some which have very few records in the county. I'm looking forward to seeing the list from the three experts leading the meeting.