Life History and Morphology of the Japanese Elm Leaf Miner, <i>Anafenusa shinoharai</i>（Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae）, that Causes Blister-like Browning on the Young Leaves of <i>Ulmus davidiana</i> var. <i>japonica</i>

Abstract

The Japanese elm leaf miner, Anafenusa shinoharai Smith（Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae）, caused a large blister-like browning on the young leaves of Ulmus davidiana var. japonica in Morioka City, Iwate, Japan. This damage is reported for the first time, and the life history and larval morphology of the species are described to facilitate rapid diagnosis. The species is univoltine, and the adults emerged and reproduced in mid-May when the host leaves reached 78% of their full length. After 3 weeks, mature larvae fell to the ground, formed a chamber in the soil, and overwintered there as prepupae. In this study, all 40 adults that emerged from the soil were female, carrying an average of 35.5 mature eggs. The larvae consumed both palisade and spongy parenchyma, forming a mine with an average size of 10.3 cm2. In 2019, the number of adults that emerged from the soil was 26.7/m2 and the number of mature larvae that dropped to the ground was 239.9/m2, suggesting that the infestation and damage would be repeated the next year. I describe the larval morphology of the 5th instar（final feeding stage）and the 6th instar（non-feeding mature stage）, revealing drastic morphological changes. In addition, I redescribe the adult morphology.