What's up with this leaf?

Question

This cool design was "tattooed" on this leaf.

I found it on the windshield of my car.

What's up with it? enter image description here

score 81 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 03 '19 at 00:14

81

That is the work of a leaf miner. A leaf miner is the larval stage of an insect that feeds on the inside layer of leaves. Notice how the galleries (tunnels) start small and then get larger as the larva matures? Most leaf miners are moth larvae (Lepidoptera) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaf_miner

answered Jun 03 '19 at 00:14

Karl Kjer

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I love this caption from the wiki page photo: "Leaf with minor miner damage". – MKHC Jun 04 '19 at 09:21
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@pyro Since the miner isn't an adult, you could even describe it as minor miner minor damage! – David Richerby Jun 04 '19 at 16:10

score 20 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 04 '19 at 10:44

This leafminer is a moth in the genus Phyllocnistis (Gracillariidae). If you knew what plant the leaf came from, the moth could probably be identified to species. The marginal leaf fold at lower right is where the mature larva has spun its cocoon.

Incidentally, I'm just finishing a complete guide to the known leafminers of North America. There are many species left to be discovered though!

What's up with this leaf?

2 Answers2