Leaf-mine: Initially a linear mine running towards apex of leaf which then turns back and develops into a blotch in the area of the mid-rib (Spencer, 1972: 37, fig. 114A; Spencer, 1976: 110, fig. 177).

Upper-surface corridor along the leaf margin, running from the leaf base to the tip. Once at the tip the corridor goes down over the midrib, widening considerably. Frass in the corridor part in a broad green central band, with minute black particles at either side. In the final, blotchy part frass in coarse black grains that may sometimes stick together. Pupation outside the mine (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Larva: The larva is described by de Meijere (1925) and Dempewolf (2001).

Puparium: Reddish-brown; posterior spiracles each have 3 bulbs (Spencer, 1976: 110).

Comments: Medicago sativa subsp. varia is treated as Medicago sativa nothossp. varia (Sand Lucerne) by Stace (2010).

Hosts in Britain:

Hosts elsewhere:

Time of year - mines: June, August-September. There are at least two generations between June and September.

Time of year - adults: Unknown.

Distribution in Great Britain and Ireland: Widespread in Britain including Essex (Rainham and Colchester), Kent (Otford), Surrey (Godalming) (Spencer, 1972: 41) and Warwickshire (Keresley) (Robbins, 1991: 43). Cambridgeshire, Glamorgan and Pembrokeshire (NBN Gateway - N.B. includes Watsonian Vice Counties having publicly available records that fall within or overlap the vice county border at 10km resolution or better i.e. a record for a vice county may relate to an adjacent vice county - for included datasets see NBN Grid map below).

NBN Grid map: Note that not all datasets on the NBN Gateway may be available on the map below. If you are an NBN Gateway registered user you can request access for missing datasets via the link 'Open interactive map in new window' below.

Distribution elsewhere: Widespread in Europe, including Denmark (Spencer, 1976: 110), The Netherlands, Germany (Bladmineerders van Europa), Austria, Belarus, Czech Republic, European Turkey, French mainland, Hungary, Italian mainland, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Spanish mainland and Yugoslavia (Martinez in Fauna Europaea).

Also recorded in the Near East (Martinez in Fauna Europaea) and North America (Spencer, 1976: 110).

NBN interactive distribution map(s) of known host species in Great Britain and Ireland and elsewhere:

Parasitoids in Britain and elsewhere:

Biodiversity Heritage Library
Bladmineerders van Europa
British leafminers
Encyclopedia of Life
Fauna Europaea [128859]
NBN Gateway