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Phytomyza gentianae Hendel, 1920; Spencer, 1972b. Handbk ident. Br. Ins. 10(5g): 95 [in part, misidentification].
Chromatomyia centaurii Spencer, 1990. Host specialization in the World Agromyzidae (Diptera) : 180, 181, 183, 397.
Phytomyza gentianae Hendel, 1920; Winkler et al. 2009. Syst. ent. 34: 260-292.

Leaf-miner: Mine linear in first instar, later developing into a blotch which is frequently at base of leaf. Pupation internal (Spencer, 1990: 397).

The mine starts as a gallery, but this is engulfed by the upper surface blotch that eventually forms. This mine is in a basal leaf - right on the ground amongst the grasses etc. The mine is usually in basal part of leaf. The larva pupariates in the mine and the spiracles protrude through the upper epidermis (British leafminers).

Larva: The larvae of flies are leg-less maggots without a head capsule (see examples). They never have thoracic or abdominal legs. They do not have chewing mouthparts, although they do have a characteristic cephalo-pharyngeal skeleton (see examples), usually visible internally through the body wall.

Puparium: The puparia of flies are formed within the hardened last larval skin or puparium and as a result sheaths enclosing head appendages, wings and legs are not visible externally (see examples).

Whitish (Spencer, 1990: 397).

Comments: Spencer (1972b: 95) recorded Chromatomyia gentianae (as Phytomyza) on Blackstonia perfoliata and Centaurium erythrae (as minus). However, he later (Spencer, 1990: 396-7) recognised that specimens on Blackstonia perfoliata and specimens on Centaurium erythrae represented two different new species, which he described as Chromatomyia centaurii and Chromatomyia blackstoniae respectively.

Godfray, 2015 recorded Chromatomyia centaurii (as Phytomyza centaurii) on Gentiana tibetica purchased from a nursery in southern Scotland in early 2011 and planted in his garden near Goring Heath, Oxfordshire.

Hosts in Great Britain and Ireland:

Gentianaceae
Centaurium				Robbins, 1991: 96
Centaurium	erythraea	Common Centaury		Spencer, 1972b: 116, as gentianae, in part
Centaurium	erythraea	Common Centaury		Spencer, 1990: 397
Centaurium	erythraea	Common Centaury		British leafminers
Gentiana	tibetica	Godfray, 2015

Hosts elsewhere:

Gentianaceae
Centaurium	erythraea	Common Centaury		Bladmineerders van Europa
Centaurium	erythraea	Common Centaury		Spencer, 1990: 397

Time of year - mines: July (British leafminers).

Time of year - adults: Currently unknown.

Distribution in Great Britain and Ireland: Widespread in southern England including Middlesex (Scratch Wood); Surrey (Box Hill) (Spencer, 1972b: 116, as gentianae, in part; Spencer, 1990: 397), Bedfordshire (Upper Sundon Chalk Quarry) (British leafminers) and Warwickshire (Alvecote) (Robbins, 1991: 96). East Suffolk, North Devon and North SOmerset (NBN Atlas).

Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland (Fauna Europaea).

Distribution elsewhere: Germany (Spencer, 1990: 397).

NBN Atlas links to known host species:

British and Irish Parasitoids in Britain and elsewhere: Currently unknown.