Key for the identification of the known mines of British
non-Diptera recorded on Rumex

Note: The larvae of mining Coleoptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera may live in a corridor mine, a corridor-blotch mine, a blotch mine, a case, a rolled or folded leaf, a tentiform mine or sandwiched between two more or less circular leaf sections in later instars. Larva may pupate in a silk cocoon. The larva may have six legs (although they may be reduced or absent), a head capsule and chewing mouthparts with opposable mandibles (see video of a gracillarid larva feeding). Larvae of Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera usually also have abdominal legs (see examples). Frass, if present, never in two rows. Unless feeding externally from within a case the larva usually vacates the mine by chewing an exit hole. Pupa with visible head appendages, wings and legs which lie in sheaths (see examples).

1a> Leaf-miner: The larva initially mines a leaf of Common sorrel (Rumex acetosa) in July and August, and then feeds externally on lower leaves until May, when it pupates in a cocoon near the ground among vegetation. Young larvae make a number of rather large, untidy full depth mines. The mines contain little or no frass. The lower-surface opening, by which the larva has entered the mine, is irregularly roundish. Older larvae live free on the plant. The mine is illustrated in British Leafminers.

On Rumex in Britain and elsewhere. Widespread in Britain and continental Europe. Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland.

Adscita statices (Linnaeus, 1758) [Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae].

1b> Leaf-miner: Initially a gallery is formed, this turning into a blotch, and later two successive conical leaf-rolls. Initially a pale, later brown, usually lower-surface blotch. The blotch is preceded by an epidermal corridor, but that may be obliterated by the later blotch. Silk at the inside of the mine causes it to buckle up a bit and fold. The reddish brown frass is accumulated in a corner of the mine. The older larva leaves the mine and continues feeding inside an untidy cone, made by cutting off a strip of leaf tissue and stitching it in place with silk.

On Fallopia, Lysimachia, Persicaria, Polygonum and Rumex in Britain and Chenopodium, Lysimachia, Lythrum, Persicaria, Oxyria, Persicaria, Polygonum and Rumex elsewhere. Occurring locally in England, Scotland and parts of Ireland. Widespread in continental Europe.

Calybites phasianipennella (Hübner, 1813) [Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae].

1c > Leaf-miner: 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. Larval head light-brown or yellowish brown, edged with black postero-laterally, ocellar area blackish; prothoracic plate black edged with whitish anteriorly; abdomen dull dark green; pinacula distinct, black, sometimes brownish but with black bases to setae; anal plate large, black (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.

On numerous genera and species of several plant families, including Rumex, in Britain and elsewhere. Widespread in Britain and continental Europe. Also recorded from the Channel Is.

Cnephasia incertana (Treitschke, 1835) [Lepidoptera: Tortricidae].

1d > Leaf-miner: Oviposition at the leaf underside, usually near a vein. The mine is a narrow, hardly widening, corridor that makes about 5 whole of half circles closely around the egg. The leaf tissue around th mine is intensely reddened; often several mines in a leaf. Frass in a narrow central line. The gallery starts in tight spirals, turning leaf red. The larva moves away in an irregular gallery. Pupation outside the mine. Pupation on detritus in a cocoon.

On Rumex in Britain and elsewhere. Widespread in southern England and continental Europe. Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland.

Enteucha acetosae (Stainton, 1854) [Lepidoptera: Nepticulidae].