Colour and Discolouration of Mines

Abstract

The great interest shown in mines by entomologists for many years past is to a large extent due to the distinct variation of colour between mines and the surrounding leaf. Feeding channels in other parts of the plant, such as roots, pith of the stem and fruits, are less conspicuous and do not show the peculiarities which are characteristic of each species, as clearly as is the case with mines It is not always the mine itself which stands out so distinctly as a result of its different colouration; in some cases the mine is less obvious but its surroundings are discoloured in a characteristic fashion due to the influence of the mine. Both the colour of the mine and the discolouration of the surrounding leaf are frequently of great value for determining the species of the mine-producer and they therefore merit detailed consideration. Furthermore, other problems of great interest arise in this connection, characteristic of minology as a border region between zoology and botany; in many respects this is a virgin field, offering boundless possibilities and promising substantial results to future research.

The online version of the original chapter can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-7196-8_35