Heterarthrus microcephalus

Heterarthrus microcephalus

Description

The larva of the sawfly Heterarthrus microcephalus mines the leaves of willow with oviposition very near to the leaf tip. It eventually forms a large blotch mine, with little frass.  The larva pupates in the mine in a discoid cocoon

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 the host willow species are present.

When to see it

The larval mines can be seen when the host plants are in leaf.

Life History

Pupation occurs within the mine in a large, transparent, discoidal cocoon.

UK Status

Widespread but not well recorded 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