Insects - Pests of Ornamental Trees, Shrubs and Flowers - page 212

497 498

497 Adult of Leucoptera laburnella . 498 Laburnum leaf miner ( Leucoptera laburnella ).

499 500

499 Mine of laburnum leaf miner ( Leucoptera laburnella ) on
Laburnum .

500 Pupal cocoon of laburnum leaf miner ( Leucoptera
laburnella ) on Laburnum .

Leucoptera laburnella (Stainton) ( 497-500 )
larva

conditions, a third generation is possible in the autumn.
Eggs are deposited on the underside of leaves of
laburnum and, less frequently, on lupin. Larvae feed
singly within the leaves, each burrowing to the upper
side and then forming a large, pale blotch; blackish frass
within the mine forms a distinctive pattern: cf. mines of
the dipterous leaf miners Agromyza demeijerei (p. 195)
and Phytomyza cytisi (p. 204). Occupied mines are most
common from June to July and in August. When fully
grown, each larva bites its way through the upper
surface of the mine and spins a white web on the
underside of the same or an adjacent leaf. Pupation then
takes place. Pupae occur from July to August and from
September to May.

laburnum leaf miner
An often common pest of Laburnum ; also found on
lupin ( Lupinus ). Present throughout Europe; also
present in North America.

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DESCRIPTION
Adult: 7-9 mm wingspan; fore wings shiny white,
marked towards the apex with brownish and yellowish
orange; hind wings white; body mainly white. Larva:
up to 6 mm long; greyish white, with a distinct greenish
gut; head light brownish; prothoracic plate broad and
greyish brown; abdominal prolegs reduced but with
crotchets forming a complete circle. Pupa: 4 mm long;
yellowish brown.

DAMAGE
Mines distort the foliage and disfigure host plants;
heavy infestations reduce the vigour of young hosts.

LIFE HISTORY
Adults occur in May and in August; in favourable