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Phyllocnistis saligna
Willow Maze-miner (Zeller, 1839)
Gracillariidae: Phyllocnistinae
367 / 15.090

Similar Herts & Middlesex Species
Poplar Maze-miner
Phyllocnistis unipunctella
Wingspan: 6-7mm
Flight: Two Generations. July. Sep-April. (Hibernating)
Foodplant:   Purple Willow, Crack Willow
Nat Status: Local
Verification Grade:  Adult: 4  Mine: L

General Comments:
The rearing of an adult Phyllocnistis asiatica Martynova, 1995 from mines of supposed saligna collected at Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire in the last couple of years calls all British records of P. saligna into question. All British saligna need to be re-examined as it is possible that some reports of saligna might actually relate to asiatica. This present text is written on the assumption that all records of saligna in the database are correct.

Hertfordshire Notes:
Old records of this micro moth are from Cheshunt in 1868 and Sandridge prior to 1890 and there are later records from Lemsford Springs Nature Reserve in 1970 and Panshanger Park in 1997. There are no other records until 2010, and then in 2011 the distinctive leaf mines appeared, as if by magic, in willow (long/smooth-leaved Salix species) leaves up and down just about every river valley in the county. Records persisted in 2012 and 2013, but were fewer in number in 2014 and 2015. This all seems to indicate a moth that undergoes huge population swings - a not unusual phenomenon in the insect world. It has probably persisted at extremely low density for many years.

Middlesex Notes:
Apart from a record made at by Sich at Chiswick in 1925 there are no Middlesex records until 2010. This might reflect under-recording, of course, but it appears that the moth might have been scarce for at least some of that period.

Determination by Genitalia Examination Required

Mine: Either the leaf or a good photograph required

Recorded in 30 (73%) of 41 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1885.
Last Recorded in 2023.

Latest Records
Date#VC10k - General Area
11/11/2023120TL13 - Hitchin (N)
11/11/2023120TL22 - Stevenage
03/11/20231021TQ28 - Hendon / Hampstead / Camden
30/10/2023120TL12 - Hitchin (S) / Whitwell
11/10/2023120TL12 - Hitchin (S) / Whitwell
27/09/2023120TL23 - Letchworth / Baldock
15/09/2023121TQ17 - Brentford / Hounslow / Richmond
09/09/2023220TQ09 - Watford / Rickmansworth
09/09/2023121TQ09 - Watford / Rickmansworth
02/09/2023120TQ09 - Watford / Rickmansworth
Further info: Phyllocnistis saligna
 
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