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AJUGA. Bugles. [Lamiaceae] |
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Five species of Ajuga are recorded in Britain. These include the native Ground-pine (A. chamaepitys (L.) Schreb.), Pyramidal Bugle (A. pyramidalis L.) and Bugle (A. reptans L.). Ground pine is protected under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. Pyramidal Bugle is protected in Northern Ireland under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order, 1985. Three Diptera miners, the agromyzids Amauromyza labiatarum, Amauromyza morionella and Trypeta zoe, are recorded on Ajuga in Britain. Elsewhere, in addition to the Lamiaceae-feeding agromyzids Amauromyza lamii, Amauromyza labiatarum and Amauromyza morionella, the polyphagous agromyzids Liriomyza bryoniae, Liriomyza strigata and Liriomyza trifolii are recorded mining Ajuga. |
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| Two non-Diptera mines, Apteropeda orbiculata and Orthochaetes setiger, are recorded on Ajuga in Britain (see below). Elsewhere one additional British non-Diptera miner, Apteropeda globosa, is recorded on Ajuga. A key to the European miners, based on characteristics of the mines, immature stages and where relevant the larval cases, recorded on Ajuga is provided in Bladmineerders van Europa. This includes Orthochaetes setiger, Apteropeda globosa, Apteropeda orbiculata, Apteropeda splendida, Cnephasia asseclana, Cnephasia stephensiana, ?Phytomyza abdita. Amauromyza labiatarum Amauromyza lamii, Amauromyza morionella, Liriomyza strigata, Chromatomyia horticola and Liriomyza bryoniae but not Trypeta zoe or Liriomyza trifolii |
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Note: Diptera larvae may live in a corridor mine, a corridor-blotch mine, or a blotch mine, but never in a case, a rolled or folded leaf, a tentiform mine or sandwiched between two more or less circular leaf sections in later instars. Pupation never in a cocoon. All mining Diptera larvae 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 larvae lie on their sides within the mine and use their pick-like mouthparts to feed on plant tissue. In some corridor miners frass may lie in two rows on alternate sides of the mine. In order to vacate the mine the fully grown larva cuts an exit slit, which is usually semi-circular (see Liriomyza huidobrensis video). The pupa is 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). 1a > Leaf-miner: Corridor mine following the mid-rib, with lateral offshoots. Pupation external. Puparium yellow On numerous genera of Asteraceae, including Ajuga in Britain, and elsewhere. Throughout the British Isles, more common in the south than the north. Also continental Europe. Trypeta zoe Meigen, 1826 [Diptera: Tephritidae]. 1b > Leaf-miner: An initially linear mine, which at second instar develops into a large whitish blotch with conspicuous black frass. The early linear mine is frequently entirely enveloped by the blotch but is detectable by the alternate irregular strips of frass. Pupation external. Puparium reddish brown. Distinguishable from Amauromyza lamii only by the male genitalia.
Amauromyza morionella (Zetterstedt, 1848) [Diptera: Agromyzidae]. 1c > Leaf-miner: A linear-blotch mine, first instar mine is linear, later developing into a conspicuous white blotch. Frass greenish diffused.
Amauromyza labiatarum (Hendel, 1920) [Diptera: Agromyzidae]. |
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Key for the identification of the mines of British non-Diptera recorded on
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Note: The larvae of mining Coleoptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera may live in a corridor mine, a corridor-blotch mine, a blotch mine, a case, a rolled or folded leaf, a tentiform mine or sandwiched between two more or less circular leaf sections in later instars. Larva may pupate in a silk cocoon. The larva may have at least six legs (although they may be reduced or absent), a head capsule and chewing mouthparts with opposable mandibles (see video of a gracillarid larva feeding). Larvae of Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera usually also have abdominal legs (see examples). Frass, if present, never in two rows. Unless feeding externally from within a case the larva usually vacates the mine by chewing an exit hole. Pupa with visible head appendages, wings and legs which lie in sheaths (see examples).
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1a > Leaf-miner: Rather long corridor winding through the leaf, regularly crossing itself. The corridor later widenes considerably. Frass normally in a narrow central line, but may also lie along the side, or be absent. The larva regularly leaves a mine and restarts elsewhere (Bladmineerders van Europa). Larva without abdominal legs.
Apteropeda globosa (Illiger, 1794) [Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae]
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1b > Leaf-miner: Rather long full depth corridor that winds freely through the leaf and may cross itself. In the end the corridor widens considerably. Frass mostly in a narrow central line, but may also be deposited along the sides or be missing. The larvae regular leave a mine to restart elsewhere. Larva without abdominal legs. Pupation outside the mine. Neither larva or mine can be distinguished from that of related species.
Apteropeda orbiculata (Marsham, 1802) [Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae]
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1c > Leaf-miner: The mine begins in the midrib, especially in a lower leaf, extending into the leaf disc, branching irregularly or pinnately, may also locally be blotch like. The mine is brown and very transparent. Sides very irregularly eaten out. Frass loosely dispersed or in a loose central line, buy may also be pressed against the sides of the corridor. The larva may also leave the mine and restart elsewhere (Bladmineerders van Europa). Larva without abdominal legs.
Orthochaetes setiger (Beck, 1817) [Coleoptera: Curculionidae] |
| Last updated 03-Feb-2012 Brian Pitkin |  |
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