Unidentified egg sack/thing?

[goosey]

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?

[H Dogg]

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).

[goosey]

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 .

[H Dogg]

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.

[goosey]

Originally Posted by H Dogg

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.

[paul m]

Originally Posted by goosey

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!

[goosey]

OK, here are the 2 unknown and the Pterostichus- Good luck

[paul m]

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!

[goosey]

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

[H Dogg]

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.

[goosey]

Originally Posted by H Dogg

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.

[paul m]

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!

Originally Posted by paul m

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!

[goosey]

Originally Posted by paul m

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.

[paul m]

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 ...

Originally Posted by goosey

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.