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AMMOPHILA. Marrams. [Poaceae]

Two species of Ammophila are recorded in Britain - Marram (A. arenaria) and American Marram (A. breviligulata). Both are coastal species. The latter is introduced and known only from Anglesey. Only one dipterous miner, the agromyzid Cerodontha superciliosa, is recorded on Ammophila in Britain. Miners on grasses should be reared, whenever possible, to confirm their identity. Elsewhere the grass-feeding agromyzids Cerodontha incisa, Cerodontha pygmaea, Cerodontha superciliosa and Chromatomyia nigra are recorded mining Ammophila. No non-dipterous miner are recorded on Ammophila in Britain.

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

1> Upper-surface corridor, generally in the upper half of the blade, running up to the leaf tip, usually occupying more then half the width of the leaf. Frass in green stripes at either side of the corridor. Never more than one larva in a mine. Puparium within the mine, metallic black, not anchored with a string of silk. Cerodontha (Poemyza) superciliosa (Zetterstedt) [Agromyzidae].

Last updated 21-Feb-2008  Brian Pitkin

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