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ARTEMISIA. Mugworts and Wormwoods [Asteraceae]

Numerous species of Artemisia are recorded in Britain. Four species are native - Wormwood (A. absinthium), Field Wormwood (A. campestris), Norwegian Mugwort (A. norvegica) and Mugwort (A. vulgaris). An additional seventeen species are introduced, including Tarragon (A. dracunculus), Annual Mugwort (A. annua), Slender Mugwort (A. biennis), Hoary Wormwood (A. stelleriana), Chinese Mugwort (A. verlotiorum) and Shrub Southernwood (A. abrotanum). Field Wormwood (A. campestris) is protected under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. Ten dipterous miners, the agromyzids Agromyza rufipes, Calycomyza artemisiae, Chromatomyia 'atricornis', Phytomyza artemisivora, Liriomyza artemisicola, Liriomyza demeijerei, Liriomyza strigata and Liriomyza tanaceti and the tephritids Trypeta artemisiae and Trypeta zoe, and are recorded on Artemisia in Britain. Although there is a record of the agromyzid Agromyza abiens on Artemisia vulgaris (Robbins, 1991) this is unlikely to be correct, as this species mines Boraginaceae. There is also a record of Aulagromyza discrepans on Artemisia (Robbins, 1991), but as the mine has not previously been described, the record needs confirmation. The agromyzid Liriomyza trifolii, a pest species of ornamental and vegetable crops occasionally intercepted at UK points of entry, is recorded on Artemisia. The species has been found under glass in England and Wales. All populations have been and continue to be eradicated. The agromyzid Melanagromyza oligophaga bores within the stems of Achillea and Artemisia in Britain. Elsewhere the agromyzids Agromyza rufipes, Calycomyza artemisiae, Chromatomyia horticola, Liriomyza artemisicola, Liriomyza demeijerei, Liriomyza ptarmicae, Liriomyza strigata, Liriomyza trifolii, Ophiomyia curvipalpis and Phytomyza artemisivora, and the tephritids Trypeta artemisiae and Trypeta zoe are recorded mining Artemisia. Five non-dipterous miners are recorded on Artemisia in Britain (see below).

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

1> Blotch mine. 2. -> Corridor mine. 3. 2> A whitish/greenish blotch. Pupation external, on the ground. Puparium reddish-brown Mine of Calycomyza artemisiae on Artemisia vulgaris. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Calycomyza artemisiae (Kaltenbach) [Agromyzidae]. -> Blotch mine. Pupation external. Puparium yellow Mine of Trypeta artemisiae on Artemisia vulgaris. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Trypeta artemisiae (Fabricius) [Tephritidae]. -> Blotch mine. Details unknown. Agromyza rufipes Meigen [Agromyzidae]. 3> A distinctive mine primarily above mid-rib, with irregular short lateral offshoots into leaf blade.     Mines of Liriomyza strigata on Sonchus. Image: Crown copyright - courtesy of CSL Liriomyza strigata (Meigen) [Agromyzidae]. -> Corridor mine, not primarily above the mib-rib. 4. 4> Mine linear, whitish, both upper and lower surface. Pupation internal, at the end of the mine, with the anterior spiracles projecting through the epidermis. Mine of Chromatomyia atricornis on Sonchus olearaceus. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Chromatomyia 'atricornis' auctt. [Agromyzidae]. 4> Corridor mine primarily following the mid-rib, with irregular short lateral offshoots into the leaf blade. Puparium yellow Mine of Trypeta zoe on Artemisia vulgaris. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Trypeta zoe Meigen [Tephritidae]. -> A long, whitish mine, frequently adjoining a vein; frass in separate grains. Puparium shining black Mine on Phytomyza artemisivora on Artemisia vulgaris. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Phytomyza artemisivora Spencer [Agromyzidae]. -> A short, upper surface linear mine frequently following veins or leaf margin. Puparium yellow Mines of Liriomyza demeijerei on Artemisia vulgaris. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Liriomyza demeijerei Hering [Agromyzidae]. -> A short rather broad linear mine, usually confined to a single leaf segment. Puparium orange Mine of Liriomyza artemisicola on Artemisia vulgaris. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Liriomyza artemisicola Meijere [Agromyzidae]. -> A narrow linear mine, with frass in black strips. Puparium yellowish-black Mine of Liriomyza tanaceti on Tanacetum vulgare. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Liriomyza tanaceti Meijere [Agromyzidae].

Non-dipterous miners recorded on Artemisia in Britain Coleophora artemisicolella (Bruand, 1855) Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae Coleophora gardesanella Toll, 1954 Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae       Coleophora vibicigerella Zeller, 1839 Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae       Leucospilapteryx omissella (Stainton, 1848) Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae Scrobipalpa acuminatella (Sircom, 1850) Lepidoptera: Incurvariidae

Last updated 21-Mar-2008  Brian Pitkin

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