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ANTHOXANTHUM. Sweet Vernal-grass. [Poaceae]

Three species of Anthoxanthum are recorded in Britain. These include the native Sweet Vernal-grass (A. odoratum). Only one Diptera miner, the agromyzid Chromatomyia nigra, is recorded on Anthoxanthum in Britain. Miners on grasses should be reared, whenever possible, to confirm their identity. Elsewhere the grass-feeding agromyzids Cerodontha incisa and Chromatomyia nigra are recorded mining Anthoxanthum. Two non-Diptera miners are recorded on Anthoxanthum in Britain (see below). The coleophorid Coleophora lixella is recorded as a seed-feeder on Anthoxanthum in Britain. A key to the European miners, based on characteristics of the mines, immature stages and where relevant the larval cases, recorded on Anthoxanthum is provided in Bladmineerders van Europa. This includes Coleophora lixella, Cosmopterix orichalcea, Elachista dimicatella, Elachista humilis, Liriomyza flaveola, and Cerodontha incisa but not Chromatomyia fuscula.

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

1> Long, narrow, whitish mine. Pupation internal. Puparium yellowish brown, anterior spiracles projecting through the epidermis. Mine of Chromatomyia nigra on Arrhenatherum elatius Image: Willem Ellis (Bladmineerders van Europa) On numerous genera of grasses in Britain and elsewhere. Widespread and common throughout British Isles and much of Europe. Also recorded in Canada, western U.S.A. and Japan. Chromatomyia nigra (Meigen) [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

Non-diptereous leaf-miners on Anthoxanthum in Britain Cosmopterix orichalcea Stainton, 1861 [Lepidoptera: Cosmopterigidae]   Leaf-mine: Makes long narrow galleries. The frass is distributed through the mine and also some is ejected. The larvae may mine more than one leaf (British leafminers). Elongate, rather irregular blotch. Most frass is ejected, what remains is concentrated in a few heaps. The larva makes several mines. Pupaton outside the mine (Bladmineerders van Europa). More..   Elachista humilis Zeller, 1850 [Lepidoptera: Elachistidae]   Leaf-mine: In spring a short corridor is made that is almost stuffed with frass. After hibernation this mine is vacated, and the larva then makes a number of elongated blotches, all descending from the leaf tip. These latter mines are whitish, with irregularly scattered frass (Bladmineerders van Europa). More..

Last updated 06-Aug-2010  Brian Pitkin

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