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AESCULUS. Horse-chesnut. [Hippocastanaceae]

Five species of Aesculus are recorded in Britain. All are aliens and include Horse-chestnut (A. hippocastanum). No Diptera miners are recorded mining Aesculus in Britain. Only one non-Diptera leaf-miner, Cameraria ohridella, is recorded on Aesculus in Britain. Elsewhere one additional British non-Diptera miner, Cnephasia incertana, is recorded on Aesculus. A key to the European miners, based on characteristics of the mines, immature stages and where relevant the larval cases, recorded on Aesculus is provided in Bladmineerders van Europa. This includes Bucculatrix thoracella and Cameraria ohridella, but not Cnephasia asseclana or Cnephasia incertana.

Horse-chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum

British non-Diptera miners recorded on Aesculus in Britain

Cameraria ohridella Deschka & Dimic, 1986 [Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae]

Leaf-mine: The larva mines the leaves causing noticeable brown blotches, often many to one leaf. There is however, a similar-looking fungus which can cause confusion (UKMoths). The mine begins at a flat, oval, somewhat iridescent egg shell at the upperside of the leaf. There starts an epidermal corridor of some mm, that abruptly widens into an upper-surface blotch. The blotch is elongate, often confined between by a pair of lateral veins; its colour is cinnamon, with a darker centre. The frass is not granular, like in Phyllonorycter species, but consists of a tarlike substance covering the floor of the mine. The number of mines can be as much as several tens per leaf. Pupation occurs within the mine (Bladmineerders van Europa). Mines of Cameraria ohridella on Aesculus hippocastanum Image: Brian Pitkin The leaf-mine is also described and illustrated in British leafminers More..

Additional British non-Diptera miners recorded on Aesculus elsewhere Cnephasia incertana (Treitschke, 1835) [Lepidoptera: Tortricidae]   Leaf-mine: In the first instar the larva mines the leaves, forming short, irregular, blotch-like mines, but in later instars it lives externally, feeding in spun leaves and often twisting those of tender shoots (Bradley et al., 1973). Small, full depth mine without a definite shape; little frass. Some silk is deposited in the mine. The larva soon leaves the mine and continues feeding among spun leaves (Bladmineerders van Europa). More..   Bucculatrix thoracella (Thunberg, 1794) [Lepidoptera: Bucculatricidae]   Leaf-mine: The larvae mine the leaves at first, then create small feeding windows (UKMoths). Small, full depth, hook-like corridor, usually in a vein axil, with a proportionally large larval chamber. The remainder of the mine almost entirely stuffed with frass. At the start if the mine an iridescent egg shell. The larvae soon leave their mine and start living free on the leaf (Bladmineerders van Europa). Mine of Bucculatrix thoracella on Tilia cordata Image: Willem Ellis (Bladmineerders van Europa). The mine is also described and illustrated in British leafminers. More..

Last updated 15-Aug-2010  Brian Pitkin

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