Artemisia [Asteraceae]

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 Diptera 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 polyphagous agromyzid Liriomyza trifolii has been recorded in quarantine in Britain (Pitkin and Plant in British leafminers).

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.

Six non-Diptera miners are recorded on Artemisia in Britain (see below).

Elsewhere one additional British non-Diptera miner, Cnephasia incertana, is recorded on Artemisia (see below).

The coleophorid Coleophora artemisicolella is recorded as a seed-feeder on Artemisia in Britain.

A key to the European miners, based on characteristics of the mines, immature stages and where relevant the larval cases, recorded on Artemisia is provided in Bladmineerders van Europa. This includes Agromyza rufipes, Calycomyza artemisiae, Chromatomyia 'atricornis', Liriomyza dracunculi, Liriomyza artemisicola, Liriomyza demeijerei, Liriomyza strigata, Ophiomyia curvipalpis, Phytomyza artemisivora, Trypeta artemisiae, Trypeta zoe, Apterona helicoidella, Cnephasia incertana, Cnephasia asseclana, Cnephasia stephensiana, Coleophora artemisicolella, Coleophora caelebipennella, Coleophora vibicigerella, Coleophora ditella, Coleophora partitella, Coleophora succursella, Coleophora directella, Coleophora albicella, Coleophora albicans, Coleophora solenella, Coleophora trochilella, Coleophora settarii, Bucculatrix spp., Leucospilapteryx omissella, Scrobipalpa proclivella, Scrobipalpa gallicella, Scrobipalpula psilella and Sophronia humerella but not Coleophora gardesanella, Scrobipalpa acuminatella, Liriomyza ptarmicae, Liriomyza tanaceti or Liriomyza trifolii.

Key for the identification of the mines of British Diptera recorded on
Artemisia

Note: Diptera larvae may live in a corridor mine, a corridor-blotch mine, or a blotch mine, but never in a case, a rolled or folded leaf, a tentiform mine or sandwiched between two more or less circular leaf sections in later instars. Pupation never in a cocoon. All mining Diptera larvae are leg-less maggots without a head capsule (see examples). They never have thoracic or abdominal legs. They do not have chewing mouthparts, although they do have a characteristic cephalo-pharyngeal skeleton (see examples), usually visible internally through the body wall. The larvae lie on their sides within the mine and use their pick-like mouthparts to feed on plant tissue. In some corridor miners frass may lie in two rows on alternate sides of the mine. In order to vacate the mine the fully grown larva cuts an exit slit, which is usually semi-circular (see Liriomyza huidobrensis video). The pupa is formed within the hardened last larval skin or puparium and as a result sheaths enclosing head appendages, wings and legs are not visible externally (see examples).

1a > Leaf-miner: Blotch mine.

1b > Leaf-miner: Corridor mine.

2a > Leaf-miner: A whitish-greenish blotch. Pupation external, on the ground (Spencer, 1972: 43, fig. 140; Spencer, 1976: 306-7, fig. 552). A chacteristically pale whitish, usually upper-surface, primary blotch. There is an initial corridor, but traces of it are almost always overrun by the later blotch. The mine is quite opaque; only by opening it can it be ascertained if the mine is still occupied. No feeding lines are apparent. Unlike other blotch mines thay may occur here, Calycomyza mines are totally flat. Pupation outside the mine (Bladmineerders van Europa). A whitish blotch mine occuring on the upper leaf surface. Starts with a short corridor and does not show feeding lines. Superficially similar to the lepidopterous mine made by Leucospilapteryx omissella, but the latter mine turns purple as it ages (British leafminers).

On Artemisia and Eupatorium in Britain and additional Asteraceae elsewhere. Widespread in England and Continental Europe. Also recorded in China, Japan, Colombia and Canada.

Calycomyza artemisiae (Kaltenbach, 1856) [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

2b > Leaf-miner: Blotch mine. Pupation external. Puparium yellow

On numerous genera of Asteraceae, including Artemisia, in Britain and elsewhere. In Britain more common in the north than in the south. Also throughout the Palaearctic Region except the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern areas.

Trypeta artemisiae (Fabricius, 1794) [Diptera: Tephritidae].

2c > Leaf-miner: A large whitish underside blotch with clear feeding lines. Pupation external.

On Artemisia in Britain and elsewhere. First recorded from Coventry in Britain. Widespread in continental Europe

Agromyza rufipes Meigen, 1830 [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

3a > Leaf-miner: A distinctive mine primarily above mid-rib, with irregular short lateral offshoots into leaf blade. Pupation external (Spencer, 1972: 51 (fig. 172), 55; Spencer, 1976: 270, 271 (fig. 486)). Branched, whitish, upper-surface corridor; main axis overlying the midrib; side branches overlying the main lateral veins. (In Campanula and Phyteuma the mine is much less branched, sometimes nothing more than a corridor on top of the midrib). Frass in rather long strings. Usually the mines begins as a long and narrow, shallow, tortuous lower-surface corridor that ends upon the midrib but otherwise is not associated with the leaf venation. Often this initial corridor is filled with callus, and then even less conspicuous. Pupation outside the mine (Bladmineerders van Europa). A linear mine on the upper surface, usually following the midrib and showing side branches along the veins. The frass is in strings (British leafminers).

On more than 40 host genera in 15 families, including Artemisia, in Britain. Widespread throughout Britain. Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland. Widespread in continental Europe.

Liriomyza strigata (Meigen, 1830) [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

3b > Leaf-miner: Corridor mine, not primarily above the mib-rib.

4a > Leaf-miner: Mine linear, whitish, both upper and lower surface. Pupation internal, at the end of the mine with the anterior spiracles projecting through the epidermis (Spencer, 1976: 433). Upper-surface, less often lower-surface corridor. Frass in isolated grains. Pupation within the mine, in a, usually lower-surface, pupal chamber (Bladmineerders van Europa). A long whitish upper surface corridor, which eventually goes lower surface (British leafminers).

Two highly polyphagous species of Chromatomyia, with indistinguishable mines, have been recorded in Britain. These are syngenesiae (Hardy) and horticola (Goureau, 1851) which can only be distinguished by the male genitalia. Both are polyphagous and widespread in Britain and elsewhere, although syngenesiae is almost entirely restricted to Asteraceae (see also 'atricornis').

Chromatomyia 'atricornis' has been recorded on Artemisia in Britain.

Chromatomyia horticola (Goureau, 1851) [Diptera: Agromyzidae].
OR
Chromatomyia syngenesiae Hardy, 1849 [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

4b > Leaf-miner: Corridor mine primarily following the mid-rib, with irregular short lateral offshoots into the leaf blade. Puparium yellow

On numerous genera of Asteraceae, including Artemisia, in Britain, Throughout the British Isles, more common in the south than the north. Also continental Europe.

Trypeta zoe Meigen, 1826 [Diptera: Tephritidae].

4c > Leaf-miner: A long, whitish mine, frequently adjoining a vein; frass in separate grains. Puparium shining black

On Artemisia in Britain and elsewhere. Widespread in Britain. Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland. Common and Widespread in continental Europe, range extending eastwards to the Kirghiz Republic of the [former] U.S.S.R.

Phytomyza artemisivora Spencer, 1971 [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

4c > Leaf-miner: A short, upper surface linear mine frequently following veins or leaf margin. Puparium yellow

On Artemisia in Britain and elsewhere. Uncommon in Britain. Widespread in continental Europe.

Liriomyza demeijerei Hering, 1930 [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

4d > Leaf-miner: A short rather broad linear mine, usually confined to a single leaf segment. Puparium orange

On Artemisia in Britain and elsewhere. Widespread in Britain and central and western Europe.

Liriomyza artemisicola Meijere, 1924 [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

4e > Leaf-miner: A narrow linear mine, with frass in black strips. Puparium yellowish-black

Mine of Liriomyza tanaceti on Tanacetum vulgare. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Bladmineerders van Europa)

Mine of Liriomyza tanaceti on Tanacetum vulgare
Image: Willem Ellis (Bladmineerders van Europa)

On Artemisia, Chrysanthemum and Tanacetum in Britain and Tanacetum elsewhere. Known only from Surrey and Warwick in Britain. Widespread and not uncommon in much of western Europe

Liriomyza tanaceti Meijere, 1924 [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

Key for the identification of British non-Diptera mines recorded on
Artemisia

Note: The larvae of mining Coleoptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera may live in a corridor mine, a corridor-blotch mine, a blotch mine, a case, a rolled or folded leaf, a tentiform mine or sandwiched between two more or less circular leaf sections in later instars. Larva may pupate in a silk cocoon. The larva may have at least six legs (although they may be reduced or absent), a head capsule and chewing mouthparts with opposable mandibles (see video of a gracillarid larva feeding). Larvae of Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera usually also have abdominal legs (see examples). Frass, if present, never in two rows. Unless feeding externally from within a case the larva usually vacates the mine by chewing an exit hole. Pupa with visible head appendages, wings and legs which lie in sheaths (see examples).

1a > Leaf-miner and case bearer: The larva lives outside the mine, protected by a case, and feeds on the underlying plant tisses via a hole cut in the epidermis. Mine does not contain frass (Coleophora species)

1b > Leaf-miner, but not a case-bearer: The larva lives inside the mine. Mine usually contains frass

2a > Leaf-miner and case-bearer: A straw-coloured to grey, slender, three-valved case of he type tubular silken case; mouth angle 45° - 60°. The case resembles that of C. trochilella, but the case is more slender, the mouth is narrower and the constriction behind the mouth less deep (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Recorded on Achillea millefolium, Achillea ptarmica, Artemisia maritima, Leucanthemum vulgare and Tanacetum vulgare elsewhere. Recorded in North Hants and South Hants in Britain. Widespread in other parts of Europe and elsewhere.

Coleophora gardesanella Toll, 1954 [Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae].

2b > Leaf-miner and case-bearer: A straw-coloured, slender, three-valved tubular silken case; length about 10 mm, mouth angle 45° - 60°. Larva on the leaf underside. Perhaps because of the plant's dense felt cover, the case is attached with much silk, giving the holes a conspicuous white margin (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Recorded on Achillea millefolium, Artemisia absinthium, Artemisia vulgaris, Aster, Leucanthemum vulgare, Tanacetum vulgare and possibly Hieracium in Britain and Achillea millefolium, Artemisia absinthium, Artemisia vulgaris, Leucanthemum vulgare, Tanacetum vulgare elsewhere. Widespread in Britain although there aren't many records. Widespread in continental Europe.

Coleophora trochilella (Duponchel, 1843) [Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae].

2c > Leaf-miner and case-bearer: Laterally strongly compressed, two-valved, black silken case, narrowed behind the mouth. Rear end narrowed, strong ventral keel. Mouth angle c. 0° (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Recorded on Artemisia maritima in Britain and Achillea millefolium and Artemisia campestris elsewhere. Britain including South Essex. Widespread in continental Europe.

Coleophora vibicigerellaZeller, 1839 [Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae].

2d > Leaf-miner and case-bearer:: The larva starts to mine the leaves and then later feeds on flowers and seeds (British leafminers, as C. artemisiella). Squat tubular silken case of 6-7 mm. The front half is covered with felt, the rear half is greyish with some darker length lines. The case is trivalved, the mouth angle is c. 15-30°. The larva not only lives on the leaves, but also feeds in the inflorescence (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Recorded on Artemisia in Britain and elsewhere. Found on the edges of salt marshes on the East coast in Britain. Widespread in continental Europe.

Coleophora albicans (Zeller) [Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae].

3a > Leaf-miner: In the first instar the larva mines the leaves, forming short, irregular, blotch-like mines, but in later instars it lives externally, feeding in spun leaves and often twisting those of tender shoots. Larval head light-brown or yellowish brown, edged with black postero-laterally, ocellar area blackish; prothoracic plate black edged with whitish anteriorly; abdomen dull dark green; pinacula distinct, black, sometimes brownish but with black bases to setae; anal plate large, black (Bradley et al., 1973). Small, full depth mine without a definite shape; little frass. Some silk is deposited in the mine. The larva soon leaves the mine and continues feeding among spun leaves (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Recorded on numerous genera and species of plant families, but not yet on Artemisia, in Britain. Recorded on numerous genera and species of plant families including Artemisia elsewhere. Widespread in Britain and continental Europe. Also recorded from the Channel Is.

Cnephasia incertana (Treitschke, 1835) [Lepidoptera: Tortricidae].

3b > Leaf-miner: The larva feeds initially in a gallery on the underside of a mugwort leaf, eventually forming a blotch or blister that becomes inflated and turns at first yellowish, and later purple (UKMoths). Upper surface blotch, with a conspicuous yellow-orange tinge (older mines turn brown). The larva lines the inside with much silk, causing the mine to pucker up strongly (the inflated surface and the mostly orange tinge distinguish the mine easily from that of Calycomyza artemisiae [Diptera: Agromyzidae] on the same host plant). The mine is preceded by a long lower-surface corridor, running along the midrib or the leaf margin (but practically invisible because of the densely hairy leaf underside). When the larva is almost full-grown it starts eating parts of the upper epidermis, giving the older mines a mottled appearance. Black frass in the centre of the mine. Pupation external (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Recorded on Artemisia in Britain and elsewhere. Distributed mainly in the south and east of England. Widespread in continental Europe.

Leucospilapteryx omissella (Stainton, 1848) [Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae].

3c > Leaf-miner: The mine is brownish and extends along the midrib, sometimes branching (British leafminers). Oviposition on top of the midrib. Immediately after emergence the larva gnaws a cavity in the midrib, and from there an irregular blotch is made adjacent to the midrib. The larva continues living in the midrib that is gradully hollowed out, making from there broad, brownish, full depth excursions in the blade. The mine contains much frass; most of it is concentrated in the area immediately bordering the midrib. Older, no longer occupied parts of the mine often split open. Mines mainly on the lower leaves. The slender larvae move surprisingly fast upon disturbance; when they rest (in daytime) they lie lengthwise in the hollowed midrib. Pupation outside the mine (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Recorded on Artemisia, Carduus, Cirsium and possibly Tussilago in Britain and Carduus and Cirsium elsewhere. Widespread in Britain and continental Europe.

Scrobipalpa acuminatella (Sircom, 1850) [Lepidoptera: Incurvariidae].


	Last updated 03-Feb-2012 Brian Pitkin