Status
.....Only discovered new to Nottinghamshire in
September 2023, when
leaf mines were found at Duke's Wood near Eakring, by Nick and Samantha
Brownley. This is predominantly a southern
species, but records occur north into Yorkshire. Likely to be
somewhat under-recorded, but more widespread in Nottinghamshire and
there is potential confusion between one other Antispila
species.
The identity of any mine to species level, can be determined by the
length of the cut-out at its widest part. Those measuring between 5.0
and 6.5mm are Antispila metallella, while those measuring
between 4.0 and 5mm are Antispila petryi. Females of A.
metallella make one to three tiny practice slits before actually
laying the egg, and these are visible at the start of the mines (if the
start is visible in older mines). A. petryi females do not do
this. All leaf mines
found at Duke's Wood and other sites where the mines have been found,
have all been located on those trees growing in shadier
conditions and on the older growth. |
