Overcast.
This is an interesting little area. Tall Beeches act as a fringe around the coniferous plantation, so we have shaded areas that support many species of wild flowers. Drainage ditches provide a great deal of moisture, so plants grow very lush. Leaf-mining species appear to appreciate this luxuriant foliage and almost every plant has been mined.
Agromyza nana has mined all three lobes of a Red Clover leaf.
The Ranunculus miner Phytomyza ranunculi lays a very white trail with frass that is described as a 'string of pearls'. This is on Ranunculus repens - Creeping Buttercup.
Again, some leaves have mines in each lobe.
Pegomya solennis mines leaves of the Rumex family, including Common Sorrel. This Sorrel leaf was unusually large, at about 20cm. long.
The larva is quite large: around 10 mm. long.
Two portrait shots of Selfheal. Most specimens have gone to seed but this one has just flowered again.
