Heterarthrus fiora

Heterarthrus fiora

Alternative names
Heterarthrus aceris
Description

The larvae of the sawfly Heterarthrus fiora mine the leaves of Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) producing a large upper-surface (often almost full depth) blotch, without a trace of an initial corridor, beginning in the very tip of a leaf segment. The full grown larva spins itself a disc shaped cocoon within the mine having previously has made a circle of perforations in the upper epidermis with its mandibles. The cocoon is formed, attached to the upper epidermis, and the larva becomes immobile. The perforated circle of epidermis starts to dry, warps, and finally becomes detached from the surrounding tissue and drops to the ground. The resulting excision has a diameter of about 7 mm, and is best seen when the leaf is held against the light (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Similar Species

Heterarthrus cuneifrons makes a similar mine with a discoid cocoon, but in the centre, not the edge, of a Sycamore leaf. 

Identification difficulty

Adult, Larva and leafmine (when the 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

Wherever Sycamore occurs.

When to see it

Mine: univoltine in early summer.

UK Status

Not well recorded, but seems to be widespread in England and Wales.

VC55 Status

Rare or under recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

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