The leaf and stem mines of British flies and other insects
 

(Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera)

by Brian Pitkin, Willem Ellis, Colin Plant and Rob Edmunds

 

Phytomyza brischkei Hendel, 1922
[Diptera: Agromyzidae]


Phytomyza brischkei Hendel, 1922. Wien. ent. Ztg 39: 69
Phytomyza anthyllidis Hering, 1954. Tidschr. Ent. 97: 128. [Synonymised by Spencer, 1990: 399]
Phytomyza vulnerariae Spencer, 1957a. Entomologist's Gaz. 8: 25. [Synonymised by Spencer, 1990: 399]
Phytomyza vulnerariae Spencer, 1957a; Spencer, 1972b. Handbk ident. Br. Ins. 10(5g): 88, 117
Phytomyza brischkei Hendel, 1922; Spencer, 1990. Host specialization in the World Agromyzidae (Diptera) : 112, 125, 126 (fig. 447), 133, 140, 399.


Leaf-miner: Linear mine in sepals and leaves (Spencer, 1972b: 88, as vulnerariae ; Spencer, 1990: 125).

A corridor, largely lower-surface, often following a vein. In the end a short upper-surface corridor or small blotch. Pupation outside the mine (Bladmineerders van Europa).

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.

The larva is described by de Meijere (1926); posterior spiracles each with approx. 16 bulbs (Bladmineerders van Europa).

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).

Orange-brown (Spencer, 1972b: 88, as vulnerariae).

Hosts in Great Britain and Ireland:

Fabaceae        
Anthyllis vulneraria Kidney Vetch British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Mines in BMNH
Anthyllis vulneraria Kidney Vetch British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Spencer, 1972b: 117

Hosts elsewhere:

Fabaceae        
Anthyllis       Spencer, 1990: 112
Anthyllis vulneraria Kidney Vetch British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Anthyllis vulneraria subsp. alpestris     Bladmineerders van Europa
Trifolium alpinum     Bladmineerders van Europa
Trifolium campestre Hop Trefoil British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Trifolium fragiferum Strawberry Clover British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Trifolium repens White Clover British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa

Time of year - mines: September.

Time of year - adults: Currently unknown.

Distribution in Great Britain and Ireland: Uncommon. Devon (Hope Cove) (Spencer, 1972b: 88).

Distribution elsewhere: Widespread in continental Europe including The Netherlands (de Meijere, 1924), Belgium, European Turkey, Germany, Hungary, Italian mainland, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden and Switzerland (Fauna Europaea).

NBN Atlas links to known host species:

Anthyllis vulneraria, Trifolium campestre, Trifolium fragiferum, Trifolium repens

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



External links: Search the internet:
Biodiversity Heritage Library
Bladmineerders van Europa
British leafminers
Encyclopedia of Life
Fauna Europaea
NBN Atlas
NHM UK Checklist
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