BELLIS. Daisy. [Asteraceae]

Two species of Bellis are recorded in Britain, the native Daisy (B. perennis) and the introduced B. annua.

Five Diptera miners, the agromyzids Calycomyza humeralis, Napomyza bellidis, Ophiomyia cunctata, Liriomyza pusilla and the ephydrid Hydrellia griseola, are recorded on Bellis in Britain.

Spencer (1990) recorded the agromyzid Liriomyza orbona on Bellis perennis, although later he stated the host of L. orbona was unconfirmed, but certainly Gramineae (Spencer, 1976). Later still he gives the hosts as Avena, Deschampsia and Poa (Spencer, 1990), although it is not clear whether any of these are British host records.

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

Daisy
Bellis perennis

Elsewhere the agromyzids Calycomyza humeralis, Chromatomyia syngenesiae, Liriomyza huidobrensis, Liriomyza strigata, Liriomyza trifolii, Napomyza bellidis, Phytomyza solidaginis and Phytomyza virgaureae, and the ephydrid Hydrellia griseola are recorded mining Bellis.

Elsewhere the agromyzid Napomyza lateralis is recorded in the stems of Bellis.

One non-Diptera leaf-miner, Coleophora ramosella, is recorded on Bellis in Britain (see below).

Elsewhere three additional British non-Diptera miners are recorded on Bellis (see below).

A key to the European miners, based on characteristics of the mines, immature stages and where relevant the larval cases, recorded on Bellis is provided in Bladmineerders van Europa. This includes Napomyza bellidis, Coleophora ramosella, Hydrellia griseola, Calycomyza humeralis, Apteropeda orbiculata, Orthochaetes insignis, Cnephasia ecullyana, Liriomyza strigata, Liriomyza pusilla, Phytomyza virgaureae, Phytomyza bellidina, Cnephasia incertana, Cnephasia asseclana and Cnephasia stephensiana but not Ophiomyia cunctata or Chromatomyia syngenesiae, Liriomyza huidobrensis, Liriomyza trifolii, Phytomyza solidaginis.

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: Mine associated primarily with mid-rib.

2

1b > Leaf-miner: Mine not primarily associated with mid-rib.

3

2a > Leaf-miner: Larvae feeding in basal leaves, mainly in mid-rib, moving from one leaf to another via the base of the leaves. Pupation internal.

Only on Bellis in Britain and elsewhere. only recorded from Herts but probably more widespread in Britain. Also recorded in continental Europe.

Napomyza bellidis Griffiths, 1967 [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

2b > Leaf-miner: A whitish blotch mine along mid-rib, with offshoots into leaf blade. Pupation takes place at the base of the mid-rib. Puparium yellowish white

Mine of Ophiomyia cunctata on Taraxacum officinale Image: Willem Ellis (Bladmineerders van Europa)

On Crepis, Hypochaeris, Lapsana, Mycelis, Picris, Sonchus, Taraxacum and possibly Bellis in Britain and additional genera of Asteraceae elsewhere. Widespread in Britain and throughout much of Europe.

Ophiomyia cunctata (Hendel, 1920) [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

3a > Leaf-miner: A short linear mine in first instar, later becoming a circular or oval blotch. Frass is excreted in a black mass prior to pupation. Puparium reddish brown to black, firmly glued with frass within the mine.

On Aster, Bellis and Erigeron in Britain and additional genera of Asteraceae elsewhere. Widespread in southern England and Europe. Also recorded in Canada, Argentina, South Africa, India, Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Calycomyza humeralis (von Roser, 1840) [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

3b > Leaf-miner: An irregular linear mine, which in small leaves can form a secondary blotch. Puparium orange

On Aster, Bellis and Solidago in Britain and additional genera of Asteraceae elsewhere. Widespread in Britain. Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland. Widespread and common in much of continental Europe.

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

3c > Leaf-miner: Irregular mine, locally shallow, elsewhere much deeper, giving it a mottled appearance. In broadleaved plants the mine often begins as a blotch with stellate extensions, but sometimes as a very fine, shallow corridor. In grasses the mine often begins in the leaf sheath. The frass is very fine-grained, initially scattered, later in aggregates.

Mine of Hydrellia griseola on Glyceria fluitans Image: Willem Ellis (Bladmineerders van Europa)

On ? Alisma, ? Damasonium, ? Sagittaria, ? Bellis, ? Rorippa, Tropaeolum , ? Lychnis, ? Stellaria, ? Carex, ? Cyperus, ? Scirpus, ? Hydrocharis, ? Stratiotes, ? Lamium, ? Lemna, ? Allium, Arrhenatherum, ? Polygonum, ? Potamogeton, ? Veronica, ? Typha in Britain and ? Alisma, ? Damasonium, ? Sagittaria, ? Bellis, ? Rorippa, Tropaeolum, Lychnis, ? Stellaria, Carex, ? Scirpus, Trifolium, ? Hydrocharis, Lamium, ? Lemna, Allium, Papaver, Agrostis, Alopecurus, Apera, Arrhenatherum, Avena, Avenula, Brachypodium, Briza, Bromus, Calamagrostis, Dactylis, Desmazeria, Digitaria, Echinochloa, Eleusine, Elymus, Festuca, Gaudinia, Glyceria, Holcus, Hordeum, Lagurus, Lolium, Panicum, Phalaris, Phleum, Phragmites, Poa, Secale, Setaria, Triticum, ? Polygonum, ? Potamogeton, Veronica, ? Typha and Verbena elsewhere. Widespread in England. Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland. Widespread in the Palaearctic region. Also recorded from Nearctic and Australasian Regions.

Hydrellia griseola (Fallén, 1813) [Diptera: Ephydridae].

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

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: Tubular silke case, about 9 mm long, trivalved, with a mouth angle of about 20° (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Recorded on Bellis perennis and Solidago virgaurea in Britain and Aster amellus, Aster linosyris, Bellis perennis, Hieracium and Solidago virgaurea elsewhere. North Hants in Britain. Widespread in continental Europe.

Coleophora ramosella Zeller, 1849 [Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae]

1b> Leaf-miner but not a case-bearer

2

2a > Leaf-miner: Rather long full depth corridor that winds freely through the leaf and may cross itself. In the end the corridor widens considerably. Frass mostly in a narrow central line, but may also be deposited along the sides or be missing. The larvae regular leave a mine to restart elsewhere. Pupation outside the mine. Neither larva or mine can be distinguished from that of related species (Bladmineerders van Europa). Larva without abdominal legs.

Recorded on numerous genera and species in several plant families, but not yet on Bellis, in Britain. Recorded on numerous genera and species in several plant families, including Bellis, elsewhere. Widespread in Britain and continental Europe.

Apteropeda orbiculata (Marsham, 1802) [Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae]

2b > 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 Bellis, in Britain. Recorded on numerous genera and species of plant families including Bellis elsewhere. Widespread in Britain and continental Europe. Also recorded from the Channel Is.

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

2c > Leaf-miner: Rather narrow corridor, untidy and sometimes branched, starting from the base of the leaf, in particular the midrib. Sides of the corridor irregularly eaten out, not really parallel. Frass mostly present, and then in a central line. The legless larva is capable of leaving the mine and start a new one elsewhere. These later mines are much broader, and the frass is scattered irregularly. (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Host plants unknown in Britain. Recorded on numerous genera and species in several plant families, including Bellis, elsewhere. Recorded in southern England. Widespread in continental Europe.

Orthochaetes insignis (Aube, 1863) [Coleoptera: Curculionidae]