Leafminer, aster - Bucculatrix staintonella

Moved

Moved from Section II (aster and mint leafminers).

… John van der Linden, 30 April, 2018 - 2:27pm

Moved

Moved from Butterflies and Moths.

Likely to be this species:

… Charley Eiseman, 2 February, 2018 - 7:30pm

Looks pretty darn similar

… John van der Linden, 30 April, 2018 - 2:26pm

Nice work!

Bonus points for finding the plant again and determining what species it is :)

… Charley Eiseman, 30 April, 2018 - 2:57pm

I'll see

what I can do!

… John van der Linden, 30 April, 2018 - 4:33pm

Great, thanks

I'll be sure to post any adults. --J

… John van der Linden, 3 February, 2018 - 12:11am

I saw these because of the Google alert I've set up for any mention of leafminers on the internet... not sure why I only got the alert now if you posted these on January 20.

Anyway, I strongly suspect Bucculatrix, but I reserve the right to be wrong! There is at least one species that mines in asters in early spring (never exiting to feed externally as most species do), but I've never seen it this early!

… Charley Eiseman, 1 February, 2018 - 6:17am

Thanks, Charley

Today 2 of the larvae exited their leaf (again) and spun cocoons on the wall of the rearing container. Fingers crossed...

… John van der Linden, 2 February, 2018 - 2:25pm

Cocoons

Are they elongate with longitudinal ribs?

… Charley Eiseman, 2 February, 2018 - 2:57pm

Yes!

… John van der Linden, 2 February, 2018 - 7:14pm

Didn't look closely

will check

… John van der Linden, 2 February, 2018 - 4:10pm

… John van der Linden, 20 January, 2018 - 12:50pm