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ATHYRIUM. Lady-ferns. [Woodsiaceae]

Three species of Athyrium are recorded in Britain - Alpine Lady-fern (A. distentifolium), Lady-fern (A. filix-femina) and Newman's Lady-fern (A. flexile). All are native species. Two species of diptera, the anthomyiids Chirosia betuleti and Lasiomma latipenne are recorded mining Athyrium in Britain. Elsewhere, in addition to Chirosia betuleti and Lasiomma latipenne, Chirosia histricina is recorded mining Athyrium. No non-dipterous miners are recorded mining Athyrium in Britain.

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

1> Mine in leaf and stem. Tip of frond rolled upwards into a loose, conspicuous mop-head involving many pinnae; inside a white larva mines along rachis causing it to coil. Tip of frond mined by Chirosia betuleti on Dryopteris filix-mas. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Chirosia betuleti (Ringdahl) [Anthomyiidae]. ->Mine in leaf stalk or mid-rib of frond. Lasiomma latipenne (Zetterstedt) [Anthomyiidae].

Last updated 13-Dec-2008  Brian Pitkin

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