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Phyllocnistis unipunctella
Poplar Maze-miner (Stephens, 1834)
Gracillariidae: Phyllocnistinae
368 / 15.092
Photo © Helen McClennon-Warnock,  03/08/2022 - Butley Low corner

Similar Suffolk Species
Kent Maze-miner
Phyllocnistis xenia
Willow Maze-miner
Phyllocnistis saligna
Wingspan: 7-8mm
Flight: Two Generations. July. Sep-April. (Hibernating)
Foodplant:   Black Poplar, Lombardy Poplar
Nat Status: Common
Verification Grade:  Adult: 2  Mine: A

Morley’s Final Catalogue: Usually common on poplar. Leiston (Grey); Hacheson (Hkr) ; Swefling (Bloomf.); Brandon (Barrett). Euston, bred in 1932 ; Mildenhall and Ipswich (Whit). South Cove in 1937.

Recent Status: A common Suffolk species.

Life Style: A multi-brooded species that hibernates as an adult. The larvae mine leaves of Populus nigra, P. var-italica, P. x-canadensis and less often P. trichocarpa and P. balsamifera. They pupate beneath a protective silken membrane in a cocoon on the mined leaf.

Identification: Phyllocnistis species are small white winged species with a smooth scaled head. They have a sharp small terminal black dot with two dark striae emanating from it through the apical cilia. They all have four or five costal and three dorsal dark striae. The second costal and first dorsal striae usually form a complete fascia. The area between the first and second dorsal striae is shaded. In P. xenia this is yellow, orange or ochre with the colour often extending further towards the costa and basally of the first dorsal stria. In P. unipunctella this area has limited yellow but has an oval dark patch. It also has dark shading centrally in the wing and may have it at the base of the dorsum, before the first dorsal stria and a single central longitudinal line. P. saligna has a uniform yellow and dark mixed patch and a double dark central longitudinal line. In all species these markings may be reduced.
The larvae of P. unipunctella mine either side of a leaf creating a back and forth zig-zag pattern. There is a central frass line that is green and not readily visible. More Info

Recorded in 47 (81%) of 58 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1932.
Last Recorded in 2023.

Latest 5 Records
Date#VC10k Area
19/10/2023+25TM59 - Lowestoft
18/10/2023+25TM59 - Lowestoft
24/09/2023+25TM24 - Woodbridge/Martlesham
16/09/2023125TM24 - Woodbridge/Martlesham
14/09/2023125TM24 - Woodbridge/Martlesham
Further info: Phyllocnistis unipunctella
 
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