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ALLIUM. Chives, leeks, onions, garlics, ramsons. [Liliaceae]

Twenty-four species of Allium are recorded in Britain, including the native species Ramsons (A. ursinum L.), Wild Onion (A. vineale L.), Chives (A. schoenoprasum L.), Sand Leek (A. scorodoprasum L.), Round-headed Leek (A. sphaerocephalon L.) and Field Garlic (A. oleraceum L.). Round-headed Leek is protected under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. Three dipterous miners, the agromyzid Chromatomyia horticola, the drosophilid Scaptomyza pallida and the ephydrid Hydrellia griseola, are recorded on Allium in Britain. The polyphagous agromyzids Liriomyza huidobrensis, Liriomyza sativae and Liriomyza trifolii, pest species of ornamental and vegetable crops occasionally intercepted at UK points of entry, are recorded on Allium. Liriomyza huidobrensis and Liriomyza trifolii have been found under glass in England and Wales. All populations have been and continue to be eradicated. Elsewhere, in addition to the ephydrid Hydrellia griseola, the highly polyphagous agromyzids Liriomyza huidobrensis, Liriomyza sativae, Liriomyza strigata and Liriomyza trifolii are recorded mining Allium. Two non-dipterous miners, are recorded on Allium in Britain (see below).

Ramsons - Allium ursinum

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

1> Mine linear, whitish, both upper and lower surface. Pupation internal, at the end of the mine. Puparium whitish, anterior spiracles projecting through the epidermis. Mine of Chromatomyia horticola on Papaver rhoeas. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Chromatomyia horticola (Goureau) [Agromyzidae]. ->Irregularly formed mine, very shallow and as a result, whitish in colour. In broad leaved plants frequently star-shaped and sometimes a very shallow corridor. In grasses the mine frequently starts in the leaf sheath. The frass is finely grained, initially irregularly spread, later in clumps. The larva may mine more than one leaf. Pupation in separate mine (sometimes even on another plant) without frass. Puparium whitish to dark grey Mine of Hydrellia griseola on Glyceria fluitans. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Hydrellia griseola (Fallén) [Ephydridae]. ->Corridor-blotch mine. Mine either upper or underside, whitish. Frass in small black clumps. Scaptomyza pallida (Zetterstedt) [Drosophilidae].

Non-dipterous miners recorded on Allium in Britain Acrolepiopsis assectella (Zeller 1839) Lepidoptera: Acrolepiidae Orthochaetes setiger (Beck 1817) Coleoptera: Curculionidae

Last updated 30-Jul-2008  Brian Pitkin