Although there may not seem to be much around, in January, interesting records can be made by looking beneath the surface. More...

Phytobia cerasiferae is a fly which mines young stems of Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa). This species was considered extinct in the UK but has recently been rediscovered. The larvae feed on the xylem tissue in young stems and  can be seen by the scars they cause. Young Blackthorn stems (up to a thumb's thickness) need to be cut every couple of inches up the stem to show the damage caused by the feeding larva. The reddish markings around each growth ring are the marks caused by the larva feeding up and down the stem.  See: https://agromyzidae.co.uk/species/agromyzidae/phytomyzinae/phytobia/phytobia-cerasiferae/

Phytobia carbonaria causes similar marks but feeds on the cambium layer in Hawthorn stems, and it's worth looking for this species as well. See: https://agromyzidae.co.uk/species/agromyzidae/phytomyzinae/phytobia/phytobia-carbonaria/

Photos: Barry Warrington