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ARRHENATHERUM. False Oat-grass. [Poaceae]

Two species of Arrhenatherum are recorded in Britain, including False Oat-grass (Arrhenatherum elatius), a native species. Twelve dipterous miners, the grass-feeing agromyzids Agromyza albipennis, Agromyza nigrociliata, Agromyza rondensis, Cerodontha flavocingulata, Cerodontha pygmaea, Chromatomyia fuscula, Chromatomyia nigra, Liriomyza flaveola, ? Liriomyza graminivora, Liriomyza phryne and Liriomyza pusio and the polyphagous ephydrid Hydrellia griseola, are recorded on Arrhenatherum in Britain. Miners on grasses should be reared, whenever possible, to confirm their identity. British records of the agromyzid Chromatomyia fuscula on Arrhenatherum (Robbins, 1989 & 1991) are rejected. Elsewhere the agromyzids Agromyza albipennis, Agromyza nigrociliata, Agromyza rondensis, Cerodontha pygmaea, Chromatomyia fuscula, Chromatomyia nigra, Liriomyza flaveola, Liriomyza phryne and Liriomyza pusio; and the ephydrid Hydrellia griseola are recorded mining Arrhenatherum. The key below includes mines on Arrhenatherum, Brachypodium and Molinia. Two non-dipterous miners are recorded on Arrhenatherum in Britain (see below). Elsewhere five additional British non-dipterous miners are recorded on Arrhenatherum (see below).

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

#> Details of mine unknown. Pupation external. Recorded on Arrhenatherum, Dactylis and Holcus. Liriomyza phryne Hendel [Agromyzidae]. #> Upper-surface, unusually short corridor (ca. 4 cm). Sometimes several mines in a leaf. Pupation outside the mine. Liriomyza pusio (Meigen) [Agromyzidae]. 1> Pupation internal. 2. -> Pupation external. 3. 2> 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 (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Chromatomyia nigra (Meigen) [Agromyzidae]. -> Narrow whitish mine, with frass in distinct black lumps. Pupation internal Chromatomyia fuscula (Zetterstedt) [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 grey. Mine of Hydrellia griseola on Glyceria fluitans. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Hydrellia griseola (Fallén) [Ephydridae]. -> Larvae feed singly, forming an upper surface linear-blotch mine. Pupation either internal or external. Puparium reddish, brown or black, loosely glued to the leaf. Mine of Agromyza albipennis on Phalaris arundinacea. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Agromyza albipennis Meigen [Agromyzidae]. 3> A single larva in mine. 4. -> More than one larva in mine. 5. 4> A lower surface mine. Normally pupation in the ground. Puparium yellowish-brown. Cerodontha (Phytagromyza) flavocingulata (Strobl) [Agromyzidae]. -> A narrow whitish linear mine, running down the leaf from the apex, with frass in two rows of separate grains. Pupation external. Puparium orange-yellow to reddish Liriomyza flaveola (Fallén) [Agromyzidae]. -> Upper surface corridor mine. The mine starts at the leaf apex. Frass in clumps or closely packed grains. Doubtful host and doubtful British record. ? Liriomyza graminivora Hering [Agromyzidae]. -> Larvae feed singly, forming an upper surface linear-blotch mine. Pupation either internal or external. Puparium reddish, brown or black, frequently adhering to leaf near end of mine, Agromyza albipennis Meigen [Agromyzidae]. -> Larvae feed singly, forming greenish mine, initially running towards apex of leaf before turning back down and developing into a broad blotch. Puparium reddish brown Agromyza rondensis Strobl [Agromyzidae]. 5> Normally several larvae feed together. Pupation in the mine. Puparium shining black Cerodontha (Poemyza) pygmaea (Meigen) [Agromyzidae]. -> Several larvae can occur together in a single leaf. The young larva first feeds towards the apex of the leaf, later turning and feeding downwards. Pupation external. Puparium reddish-brown Mine of Agromyza nigrociliata on Arrhenatherum elatius. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Agromyza nigrociliata Hendel [Agromyzidae].

Non-dipterous miners recorded on Arrhenatherum in Britain Elachista rufocinerea (Haworth, 1828) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae   Helcystogramma rufescens (Zeller, 1877) Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae   Additional British non-dipterous miners recorded on Arrhenatherum elsewhere Elachista albifrontella (Hübner, 1817) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae Elachista apicipunctella Stainton, 1849 Lepidoptera: Elachistidae   Elachista canapennella (Hübner, 1813) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae     Elachista maculicerusella (Bruand, 1859) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae Elachista subalbidella Schläger, 1847 Lepidoptera: Elachistidae

Last updated 19-Aug-2008  Brian Pitkin

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