Leaf fall as a source of leaf miner mortality

Abstract

Leaf miner deaths resulting from the death of their leaves were assessd by collecting falling leaves of holm oak and beech. The Phyllonorycter mines thus captured were examined to ascertain the cause of death. For both mining species the mortality from leaf shedding accounted for less than 2.8% of the mining cohorts. It is argued that the level of mortality is insufficient for population regulation, as has been previously suggested.