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BETA. Beets. [Chenopodiaceae]

Beet (B. vulgaris) and Maritime Beet (B. vulgaris maritima) are native to Britain. Caucasian Beet (B. trigyna), Foliage Beet (B. vulgaris cicla) and Root Beet (B. vulgaris vulgaris) have been introduced. Four dipterous miners, the agromyzid Amauromyza flavifrons, the anthomyiids Pegomya betae and Pegomya hyoscyami, and the ephydrid Clanoneurum cimiciforme are recorded on Beta in Britain. Two of these are also recorded from Spinacia oleracea in Britain. The polyphagous agromyzids Liriomyza huidobrensis, Liriomyza sativae and Liriomyza trifolii, pest species of ornamental and vegetable crops occasionally intercepted at UK points of entry, have been recorded on Beta. Liriomyza huidobrensis and Liriomyza trifolii have been found under glass in England and Wales. All populations have been and continue to be eradicated. Although previously recorded as a miner on Beta, Botanophila fugax is a common saprophagous species, the larvae normally feeding in the soil (G.C.D.Griffiths, pers. comm.). Elsewhere the ephydrid Clanoneurum cimiciforme, the agromyzids Amauromyza flavifrons, Liriomyza bryoniae, Liriomyza huidobrensis, Liriomyza sativae, Liriomyza strigata and Liriomyza trifolii, the anthomyiids Pegomya conformis and Pegomya hyoscyami, and the drosophilid Scaptomyza graminum are recorded mining Beta. Two non-dipterous miners are recorded on Beta in Britain.

Beet - Beta vulgaris

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

1> Mine begins with a broad corridor, which is rather transparent, widening itself then becoming a dorsal or ventral, greenish blotch, which later, depending on the size of the leaf, can become, in places, full depth and transparent. Ample black frass scattered in the mine. Puparium reddish brown Pegomya betae (Curtis) [Anthomyiidae]. ->A large blotch mine, often with several larvae, beginning with a short deeper corridor at a single egg shell on the surface of the leaf. The broad deep corridor later ends in a blotch but can be recognised (beneath the blotch) by its greater depth. Mine predominantly dorsal or ventral, greenish in transmitted light. Frass grains irregularly scattered except in the initial corridor. Mine of Pegomya hyoscyami on Atropa belladonna. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Pegomya hyoscyami (Panzer) [Anthomyiidae]. ->A white linear-blotch mine, the linear section sometimes not detectable as it becomes enveloped in later blotch. Puparium reddish-brown Mines of Amauromyza flavifrons on Silene dioica. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Amauromyza (Trilobomyza) flavifrons (Meigen) [Agromyzidae]. ->Broad mine of variable depth. Frass spread irregularly. Pupation usually internal, seldom external. Clanoneurum cimiciforme (Haliday) [Ephydridae].

Mines on Beta maritima. Images: Brian Pitkin

Non-dipterous miners recorded on Beta in Britain Scrobipalpa nitentella (Fuchs, 1902) Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae Scrobipalpa ocellatella (Boyd, 1858) Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae

Last updated 05-Aug-2008  Brian Pitkin

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