Heterarthrus wuestneii

Heterarthrus wuestneii

Alternative names
Heterarthrus healyi
Description

The larva of Heterarthrus wuestneii creates a blotch like mine on the leaves of Field Maple.  The mine usually includes the tip of a lobe, and the larva has dark marks on the prothorax and dark spot on the ventral side of the thorax.  As with other Heterarthrus species, the feet are short and stubby. 

The larva pupates in a disc cut out of the leaf; in the pre-pupal stage the larva loses pigmentation.

Similar Species

Heterarthrus fiora is similar, but mines Sycamore leaves

Identification difficulty

Adult Leafmine (when host plant is identified)

Recording advice

Leaf mine photographs should be backlit so that the frass patterns and larva can be seen.  The host plant must be identified in the comments

Habitat

Where Field Maple occurs.

When to see it

Larval mines may be seen during summer and autumn when Field Maple is in leaf. 

UK Status

An uncommon and little recorded species in Britain.

VC55 Status

Status in Leicestershire and Rutland not known.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Additional images

All NatureSpot records