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ACHILLEA. Sneezeworts and Yarrow. [Asteraceae]

Eighteen species of Achillea are recorded in Britain. These include the native Yarrow (A. millefolium) and Sneezewort (A. ptarmica) and the introduced Fern-leaf Yarrow (A. filipendulina). Eight dipterous miners, the agromyzids Chromatomyia 'atricornis', Liriomyza flavopicta, Liriomyza ptarmicae, Liriomyza strigata, Ophiomyia curvipalpis, Phytomyza corvimontana and Phytomyza pullula and the tephritid Trypeta artemisiae, are recorded mining Achillea in Britain. The agromyzid Melanagromyza oligophaga bores within the stems of Achillea and Artemisia in Britain and elsewhere. Spencer (1990) suggested that the host of the agromyzid Liriomyza hampsteadensis was Achillea millefolium, but its life-style is unknown. The agromyzid Liriomyza huidobrensis, a polyphagous pest species of ornamental and vegetable crops occasionally intercepted at UK points of entry, is recorded on Achillea and has been found under glass in England and Wales. All populations have been and continue to be eradicated. Elsewhere the agromyzids Chromatomyia syngenesiae, Liriomyza flaveola, Liriomyza huidobrensis, Phytomyza tanaceti, and the tephritid Trypeta zoe are also recorded mining Achillea. Four non-dipterous miners are recorded on Achillea in Britain (see below).

Sneezewort - Achillea ptarmica

Key for the identification of the known Diptera mines in Britain.

1> Stem mine 2. -> Leaf mine. 3. 2> A narrow external stem mine on upper part of stem below flower head. Pupation external. Liriomyza flavopicta Hendel [Agromyzidae]. -> A narrow, inconspicuous stem mine. Pupation at the end of the mine. Puparium yellowish or completely black, anterior spiracles projecting through epidermis. Ophiomyia curvipalpis (Zetterstedt) [Agromyzidae]. 3> Blotch mine. Pupation external. Puparium yellow Mine of Trypeta artemisiae on Artemisia vulgaris. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Trypeta artemisiae (Fabricius) [Tephritidae]. -> Linear mine. 4. 4> A distinctive mine primarily above mid-rib, with irregular short lateral offshoots into leaf blade. Pupation external.     Mines of Liriomyza strigata on Sonchus. Images: Crown copyright - courtesy of CSL Liriomyza strigata (Meigen) [Agromyzidae]. -> Mine linear, but not primarily above the midrib. 4. 4> Mine linear, frequently adjoining mid-rib. Puparium black Mines of Phytomyza corvimontana on Achillea ptarmica. Images: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Phytomyza corvimontana Hering [Agromyzidae]. -> Mine linear, whitish, both upper and lower surface. Pupation internal, at the end of the mine, with the anterior spiracles projecting through the epidermis. Mine of Chromatomyia atricornis on Sonchus olearaceus. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Chromatomyia 'atricornis' auctt. [Agromyzidae]. -> A narrow linear mine commencing on lower surface. Puparium yellow Mine of Liriomyza ptarmicae on Achillea millefolium. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Liriomyza ptarmicae Meijere [Agromyzidae]. -> A narrow linear mine, even in the finest subdivisions of the leaves. Puparium shining black Mine of Phytomyza pullula on Matricaria maritima Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Phytomyza pullula Zetterstedt [Agromyzidae].

Non-dipterous miners recorded on Achillea in Britain Bucculatrix cristatella (Zeller, 1839) Lepidoptera: Bucculatricidae Bucculatrix humiliella Herrich-Schäffer, 1855 Lepidoptera: Bucculatricidae       Coleophora argentula (Stephens, 1834) Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae   Coleophora gardesanella Toll, 1954 Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae

Last updated 12-Jun-2008  Brian Pitkin

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