Wild About The World
Go Back   Wild About The World > World Wildlife > Insects and Invertebrates
Register Members  
» Log in
User Name:

Password:

Not a member yet?
Register Now!
» Ads
» June 2013
S M T W T F S
262728293031 1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 123456
» ...
Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 07-02-2008, 10:23 AM
goosey's Avatar
Completely Wild Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 11,016
Unidentified egg sack/thing?

Another unknown ID from my image clear out.
This is one, of quite a few I found on the underside of ivy leaves in May 2007. They were flat, smooth and dry to the touch and this particular specimen measures 11mm. You can see in the photo that something appears to be hatching from it. The more I look at it, I think these are the last few to hatch, lots of the bubble looking parts seem to have openings already.
Any ideas please?


Last edited by goosey; 07-02-2008 at 12:16 PM. Reason: After thought
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 07-02-2008, 02:36 PM
H Dogg's Avatar
Wild Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 189
It looks like its a blotch leaf mine. Leaf miners are a very diverse subject much like galls, but probrably more species produce these mines. Coleoptera, Diptera and Lepidoptera all produce them. This one looks like its been produced by a member of the coleoptera (beetles).
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 07-02-2008, 06:31 PM
goosey's Avatar
Completely Wild Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 11,016
Thanks H, I had no idea that Leaf miners even existed! Though saying that I have seen pictures of similar (but different) looking "sacks" that some moths produce -so the understanding is slowly ticking into place!
It would be interesting to find out which sort of beetle produces these. I will go through my beetle images from the garden, though I know some are unknown (lack of mandible detail), I don't recall having seen that many types though.
Thanks again .
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 07-02-2008, 07:29 PM
H Dogg's Avatar
Wild Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 189
Buprestidae, Chrysomelidae (leaf beetles), Curculionidae(weevils). These groups all produce them if its any help. Moth caterpillars etc are normally less of a tent and more linear. Bit short of time ill go into more detail tomorrow, sorry.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 08-02-2008, 04:21 PM
goosey's Avatar
Completely Wild Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 11,016
Quote:
Originally Posted by H Dogg View Post
Buprestidae, Chrysomelidae (leaf beetles), Curculionidae(weevils). These groups all produce them if its any help. Moth caterpillars etc are normally less of a tent and more linear. Bit short of time ill go into more detail tomorrow, sorry.
I haven't much to go on, but these are what beetles I noted last year.

Church yard beetles - Blaps mucronata
Lily beetles - Lilioceris lilii (leaf beetles)
Pterostichus
Mealworm beetle - Tenebrio molitor
2 x unknown beetles ( I do have photo's)
we also have normal weevils.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Old 08-02-2008, 04:34 PM
paul m's Avatar
Really Wild Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Sheffield, South Yorks, UK
Posts: 9,475
Quote:
Originally Posted by goosey View Post
I haven't much to go on, but these are what beetles I noted last year.

Church yard beetles - Blaps mucronata
Lily beetles - Lilioceris lilii (leaf beetles)
Pterostichus
Mealworm beetle - Tenebrio molitor
2 x unknown beetles ( I do have photo's)
we also have normal weevils.
Would that be Pterostichus madidus
Upload the pics or e-mail them if you're shy!
__________________
"We are on Earth to do good to others.
What the others are here for, I don't know."
WH Auden
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #7 (permalink)  
Old 08-02-2008, 05:37 PM
goosey's Avatar
Completely Wild Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 11,016
OK, here are the 2 unknown and the Pterostichus- Good luck





Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #8 (permalink)  
Old 08-02-2008, 06:56 PM
paul m's Avatar
Really Wild Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Sheffield, South Yorks, UK
Posts: 9,475
Me and my mouth!
I'm just off for a couple of days but first thoughts:

The first one is surely an Amara sp, quite likely A. aenea - I think there may be enough information on the picture to key it!

The second is probably a Harpalus sp but I'll need to give that more thought.

The third 'Pterostichus', was it more than 10mm long? In which case Pterostichus such as P. cupreus is quite likely.

These are all ground beetles (Carabidae).

Bye for now!
__________________
"We are on Earth to do good to others.
What the others are here for, I don't know."
WH Auden
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #9 (permalink)  
Old 08-02-2008, 07:22 PM
goosey's Avatar
Completely Wild Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 11,016
Paul, you came up trumps again !

Phew - luckily I made a note in a April entry on my website about the Pterostichus, I noted it was 1.5cm, so that fits in with P. cupreus!

All 3 don't appear to be the cause of the leaf mines if they are Carabidae .

Any way - I hope you and your mouth have a nice break , Take care
Shirley
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #10 (permalink)  
Old 08-02-2008, 09:35 PM
H Dogg's Avatar
Wild Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 189
No none of these beetles would cause them. Although saying that there is likely that you had alot more thn just these beetles visit your garden last year. is the mine still there? keep an eye on it and you may see what comes out.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #11 (permalink)  
Old 10-02-2008, 05:35 PM
goosey's Avatar
Completely Wild Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 11,016
Quote:
Originally Posted by H Dogg View Post
No none of these beetles would cause them. Although saying that there is likely that you had alot more thn just these beetles visit your garden last year. is the mine still there? keep an eye on it and you may see what comes out.
I didn't mention ladybirds and chafers , but if I spot something different or new to me I always do my best to get a photo for my own reference.
I had a look today, spent ages turning ivy leaves and there were no mines there.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #12 (permalink)  
Old 12-02-2008, 01:27 PM
paul m's Avatar
Really Wild Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Sheffield, South Yorks, UK
Posts: 9,475
Okay, the first one is certainly an Amara (they mainly have the overall egg-shaped body. The sharp nicks at the back of the forebody are seen only on a few species of which A. aenea is one of the most common, particularly in urban habitats.

The second may well be a Harpalus - chunky, thickset legs and body but there are many of these and there's not enough detail to speculate.

The greenish beetle, at that size, is certainly a Poecilus (they have been split from Pterostichus by most authorities) of which P. cupreus is the most common in UK and probably NW Europe?

They don't cause leaf mines but, although most carabids are omnivores but mainly predatory, Amara species tend to be herbivorous as larvae (feeding on roots) but predatory as imagines. Harpalus, unusually, are plant-eaters in both life stages. Indeed, some species of Harpalus may become pests in strawberry crops!

Quote:
Originally Posted by paul m View Post
Me and my mouth!
I'm just off for a couple of days but first thoughts:

The first one is surely an Amara sp, quite likely A. aenea - I think there may be enough information on the picture to key it!

The second is probably a Harpalus sp but I'll need to give that more thought.

The third 'Pterostichus', was it more than 10mm long? In which case Pterostichus such as P. cupreus is quite likely.

These are all ground beetles (Carabidae).

Bye for now!
__________________
"We are on Earth to do good to others.
What the others are here for, I don't know."
WH Auden
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #13 (permalink)  
Old 12-02-2008, 01:48 PM
goosey's Avatar
Completely Wild Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 11,016
Quote:
Originally Posted by paul m View Post
Okay, the first one is certainly an Amara (they mainly have the overall egg-shaped body. The sharp nicks at the back of the forebody are seen only on a few species of which A. aenea is one of the most common, particularly in urban habitats.

The second may well be a Harpalus - chunky, thickset legs and body but there are many of these and there's not enough detail to speculate.

The greenish beetle, at that size, is certainly a Poecilus (they have been split from Pterostichus by most authorities) of which P. cupreus is the most common in UK and probably NW Europe?

They don't cause leaf mines but, although most carabids are omnivores but mainly predatory, Amara species tend to be herbivorous as larvae (feeding on roots) but predatory as imagines. Harpalus, unusually, are plant-eaters in both life stages. Indeed, some species of Harpalus may become pests in strawberry crops!
Clever eh! I start a thread about an egg/sack thing and end up with 2 beetle ID's and a probable . Thanks Paul!
I will keep an eye out this spring for more of the leaf mines and may be lucky enough to see what makes them.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #14 (permalink)  
Old 12-02-2008, 03:17 PM
paul m's Avatar
Really Wild Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Sheffield, South Yorks, UK
Posts: 9,475
Well, as long as we get back to the starting point eventually ....

As someone mentioned, I think, you can always keep a couple of sample leaves ina jar and see what emerges. Probably best to take a stalk and put it into water to keep the leaf digestible for the miner ...

Quote:
Originally Posted by goosey View Post
Clever eh! I start a thread about an egg/sack thing and end up with 2 beetle ID's and a probable . Thanks Paul!
I will keep an eye out this spring for more of the leaf mines and may be lucky enough to see what makes them.
__________________
"We are on Earth to do good to others.
What the others are here for, I don't know."
WH Auden

Last edited by paul m; 12-02-2008 at 03:20 PM. Reason: intelligibility!
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
Reply  

Bookmarks


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


» New Wildlife Threads
Go to first new post What's your weather like...
Last post by goosey
Today 05:57 AM
721 Replies, 47,312 Views
Go to first new post Autumn Migration 2013
Last post by goosey
16-06-2013 09:17 AM
1 Replies, 198 Views
Go to first new post Giant Oarfish. First...
Last post by chris butterworth
14-06-2013 07:20 PM
2 Replies, 229 Views
Go to first new post Silver-spotted Skipper...
Last post by black
12-06-2013 12:41 PM
0 Replies, 282 Views
Go to first new post Beetles
Last post by goosey
10-06-2013 04:24 PM
7 Replies, 175 Views
Go to first new post Find of the day
Last post by goosey
10-06-2013 10:40 AM
87 Replies, 5,397 Views
Go to first new post Lucky Peregrine chick
Last post by paul m
09-06-2013 12:45 PM
1 Replies, 113 Views
Go to first new post Late arrival of the...
Last post by goosey
09-06-2013 08:37 AM
0 Replies, 105 Views
» New Community Threads
Go to first new post What a bunch of morons!!!
Last post by Dude1111
15-06-2013 04:22 AM
0 Replies, 60 Views
Fun with the USPostal...
Last post by Dude1111
31-05-2013 12:58 PM
0 Replies, 118 Views
» Stats
Members: 24,582
Threads: 2,610
Posts: 14,570
Top Poster: goosey (11,016)
Welcome to our newest member, Rita18D
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.1.0

All times are GMT. The time now is 06:02 AM.



SEO by vBSEO 3.2.0 ©2008, Crawlability, Inc.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52