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ACONITUM. Monkshood. [Ranunculaceae]

Four species of Aconitum are recorded in Britain.These include the native Monkshood (A. napellus) and the alien Wolf's-bane (A. lycoctonum). Only one Diptera miner, the agromyzid Phytomyza aconiti, is recorded on Aconitum in Britain and elsewhere, and this is also recorded on Delphinium. No non-Diptera miners are recorded on Aconitum in Britain. Elsewhere one British non-Diptera miner is recorded on Aconitum. A key to European mines on Aconitum is provided in Bladmineerders van Europa. This includes Cnephasia incertana, Phytomyza aconitella, Phytomyza aconiti and Phytomyza aconitophila. N.B. The key to mines below includes mines recorded on Aconitum and Delphinium (Ranunculaceae).

Monk's Hood Aconitum napellus

Key for the identification of the known Diptera mines on Aconitum and Dephinium in Great Britain and Ireland

1> Larvae feeding communally, as many as six together, forming large blackish blotch. Puparium dark brown On Aconitum and Delphinium in Britain and elsewhere. Widespread in gardens in Britain and elsewhere. Also recorded in the eastern U.S.A. and Canada Phytomyza aconiti Hendel [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

British non-Diptera miners recorded on Aconitum elsewhere Cnephasia incertana (Treitschke, 1835) [Lepidoptera: Tortricidae]   Leaf-mine: In the first instar the larva mines the leaves, forming short, irregular, blotch-like mines, but in later instars it lives externally, feeding in spun leaves and often twisting those of tender shoots (Bradley et al., 1973). Small, full depth mine without a definite shape; little frass. Some silk is deposited in the mine. The larva soon leaves the mine and continues feeding among spun leaves (Bladmineerders van Europa). More..

Last updated 05-Aug-2010  Brian Pitkin

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