Another new vice county record for the ‘rare’ Phytobia cerasiferae
On 13 December 2023, Robert Homan submitted a record of the larval feeding signs of Phytobia cerasiferae (Kangas, 1955) in a Blackthorn (Prunus) stem from Cheltenham, East Gloucestershire VC33. This record represents the first known occurrence of this species in the vice county. Many thanks to Robert for submitting his observation.
Having previously not been recorded in the UK since 1955, this species will almost certainly prove to be one of our most common agromyzids now naturalists are aware of the larval requirements and feeding signs in light of a recently published study on the species.
