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Leaf-miner: A conspicuous white mine with frass in more or less connected strips, older mines can show a conspicuous reddish-violet discolouration (Spencer, 1972b: 76 (fig. 253), 80; Spencer, 1976: 501).

Upper surface corridor, 6-9 cm in length, densely wound, easily confluent into a secondary blotch. Frass unusual, in more or less connected strings at either side of the corridor. Pupation outside the mine, exit slit usually in the upper epidermis. According to Hering dried mines turn yellow brown to reddish purple (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Mine of Phytomyza solidaginis on Solidago virgaurea Image: © Willem Ellis (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, 1928 and 1938a); see also Griffiths (1976c).

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).

Black; posterior spiracles each with an ellipse of 10-17 bulbs Spencer, 1976: 501).

Hosts in Great Britain and Ireland:

Asteraceae
Solidago	virgaurea	Goldenrod		Mines in BMNH
Solidago	virgaurea	Goldenrod		Spencer, 1972b: 114

Hosts elsewhere:

Asteraceae
Bellis				Spencer, 1990: 274
Solidago	virgaurea	Goldenrod		Spencer, 1976: 501
Solidago	virgaurea	Goldenrod		Spencer, 1990: 274
Solidago	virgaurea	Goldenrod		Bladmineerders van Europa

Time of year - mines: August-September.

Time of year - adults: Currently unknown.

Distribution in Great Britain and Ireland: Widespread in Britain including Kent (Darenth) (Spencer, 1972b: 80); East Gloucestershire, Glamorgan, North Ebudes and West Gloucestershire (NBN Atlas).

Distribution elsewhere: Widespread in continental Europe including Belgium (de Bruyn and von Tschirnhaus, 1991), Germany (Spencer, 1976: 578), Finland, Norway, Sweden (Spencer, 1976: 501), Poland (Spencer, 1990: 274) and Estonia (Fauna Europaea).

NBN Atlas links to known host species:

British and Irish Parasitoids in Britain and elsewhere:

Biodiversity Heritage Library
Bladmineerders van Europa
British leafminers
Encyclopedia of Life
Fauna Europaea
NBN Atlas
NHM UK Checklist