Leaf Miners

Leaf Mines are produced by moths or flies. This page concentrates mainly on those mines formed by Moths.

Leaf mines are formed by the impregnation of a fertilized moth egg into or onto a leaf of a suitable host plant. As the egg develops into a small larval grub, it starts to eat its way through the actual leaf, often between the front side and the rear side of the leaf. This leaves a distinctive trail across the leaf which can, in many cases, be clearly seen.

Many of the trails are distinctive for each moth, as is the plant host, so often, the presence of a moth species can be determined by looking specifically for the mine at certain times of the year on specific plants.

The information below gives detail of Moths and Plant host to look out for in the Teme Valley. Some are very common. Others exceedingly rare.

Leaf mines are common on many plants. If you find a leaf mine on any plant...make a note of the plant and where it was found, take a picture of the mine and send the photo and details in. We will try and figure out just what possibilities of moth species you have found, and add it to the information below.

All Photographs are copyright of photographer named.


Food Plant : Bramble	Moth : 0050 - Stigmella aurella

Stigmella aurella Leaf Mine on Bramble Annabel Elliott - Kyre Pool	Stigmella aurella Leaf Mine on Bramble Alan Micklethwaite - Hanley Broadheath

Stigmella aurella Leaf Mine on Bramble Sandy Blakeway Smith - Pensax Common

Stigmella aurella Leaf Mine on Bramble Maggie Kingston - Stoke Bliss	Stigmella aurella Leaf Mine on Bramble Ian & Diana Parkin - Abberley

Stigmella aurella - Adult Moth (Photo : Patrick Clement)	Stigmella aurella - Teme Valley Distribution

Food Plant : Bramble	Moth : 0125 - Emmetia marginea

Emmetia marginea Leaf Mine on Bramble Danny Arnold - Upper Rochford	Emmetia marginea Leaf Mine on Bramble Photo : Patrick Clement



Emmetia marginea-Adult Moth (Photo : Oliver Wadsworth)	Emmetia marginea- Teme Valley Distribution