Leafminers in Dene Park

Stigmella hemargyrella on Beech, the one with the egg away from the midrib.

Possibly the Pinch-barred Pigmy, Ectoedemia atricollis (Stainton, 1857) on Hawthorn, probably specifically the Midland Hawthorn, Crataegus laevigata. There are a number of other possibilities for the mine ID, and I could not find the larva to confirm or not. However one positive sign was that I did find the egg on the margin of the leaf on the underside, as expected for Ectoedemia atricollis. If correct, it is the first time I have seen it in Dene Park, but I may have come across it on a day a few years ago down by the gravel pits. This example would be quite an early date for mines of this species. The larva tends to form a corridor initially, which very often follows the margin of the leaf around, but eventually forms a blotch mine. as shown here This caterpillar can be found on other Rosaceous hosts, such as apple and cherry as well as hawthorn.