Leaf-mine: An irregularly linear mine which can be both on the upper and lower leaf surface. Pupation takes place either at the end of the mine in an exit slit cut in the leaf or on the ground (Spencer, 1972: 70 (fig. 226), 73; Spencer, 1976: 407 (fig. 712), 408).

Upper surface corridor, often following the midrib for some distance. Frequently the very first part of the mine is lower-surface, and sometimes the entire mine remains at the lower surface. The corridor is wide from the start, with irregular sides. Frass initially in two rows of fine grains; further on the grains become larger and more irregular, sometimes forming pearl chains, and are dispersed less regularly. Pupation takes place either outside or within the mine. When the larva has left the mine a semicircular exit slit is made. When the puparium is formed within the mine the spiracles do not penetrate the epidermis, and an irregular semicircular opening is made in the epidermis in front of the puparium (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Mines down the leaf from the tip, then doubles back and then mines towards the apex, often doubling back a second time, towards the leaf base (British leafminers).

Larva: The larva is described by de Meijere (1926).

Puparium: Black or dark brown; posterior spiracles each having 17-19 bulbs Spencer, 1976: 408).

Hosts in Britain:

Hosts elsewhere:

Time of year - mines: June-October.

Time of year - adults: Unknown.

Distribution in Great Britain and Ireland: Widespread in south, also Denbighshire (nr Wrexham) (Spencer, 1972: 73), Warwickshire (Hawkesbury) (Robbins, 1991: 111); Cambridgeshire, Denbighshire,
Derbyshire, East Gloucestershire, Glamorgan, North Somerset, South Somerset, South-west Yorkshire, Stafford, Surrey and Worcestershire (NBN Gateway - N.B. includes Watsonian Vice Counties having publicly available records that fall within or overlap the vice county border at 10km resolution or better i.e. a record for a vice county may relate to an adjacent vice county - for included datasets see NBN Grid map below).

Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland: Co. Wexford (Rosslare) (Spencer, 1972: 73).

NBN Grid map: Note that not all datasets on the NBN Gateway may be available on the map below. If you are an NBN Gateway registered user you can request access for missing datasets via the link 'Open interactive map in new window' below.

Distribution elsewhere: Widespread in continental Europe including Denmark and Sweden (Spencer, 1976: 407), The Netherlands (Bladmineerders van Europa), Belgium (Scheirs, de Bruyn and Verdyck, 1993), Germany (Spencer, 1976: 570), Albania, Austria, Balearic Is., Corsica, Czech Republic, Dodecanese Is., European Turkey, French mainland, Italian mainland, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portuguese mainland, Romania, Sardinia, Sicily, Spanish mainland and Yugoslavia (Martinez in Fauna Europaea).

Particularly common in the Mediterranean area (Spencer, 1976: 407).

NBN interactive distribution map(s) of known host species in Great Britain and Ireland and elsewhere:

Parasitoids in Britain and elsewhere: