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BRASSICA. Cabbage, Mustard, Rape and Turnip. [Brassicaceae]

Eleven species of Brassica are recorded in Britain. These include the native Black Mustard (B. nigra) and Wild Cabbage (B. oleracea). A further nine species of Brassica have been introduced, including Ethiopian Rape, (B. carinata), Long-stalked Rape (B. elongata), Chinese Mustard (B. juncea), Rape (B. napus), Turnip (B. rapa) and Pale Cabbage (B. tournefortii). Six dipterous miners, the agromyzids Chromatomyia horticola, Liriomyza strigata and Phytomyza rufipes, the anthomyiid Delia florilega, and the drosophilids Scaptomyza griseola and Scaptomyza flava mining Brassica in Britain. Although the anthomyiid Botanophila fugax has been recorded on Brassica, it is not a miner. The agromyzid Phytomyza varipes is recorded feeding in the seed-heads of Brassica in Britain (Sepncer, 1972), although he later records the host of this species as Rhinanthus [Scrophulariaceae] and not Brassica (Spencer, 1990). The agromyzids Liriomyza huidobrensis, Liriomyza sativae and Liriomyza trifolii, polyphagous pest species of ornamental and vegetable crops occasionally intercepted at UK points of entry, are recorded on Brassica. Liriomyza huidobrensis and Liriomyza trifolii have been found under glass in England and Wales. All populations have been and continue to be eradicated. Elsewhere the agromyzids Liriomyza huidobrensis, Liriomyza sativae, Liriomyza trifolii and Phytomyza rufipes, the anthomyiid Delia florilega and the drosophilid Scaptomyza flava are recorded on Brassica. No non-dipterous miners are recorded on Brassica in Britain.

Brassica sp.

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

#> Details of mine unknown. Scaptomyza griseola (Zetterstedt) [Drosophilidae]. 1> Mine underground on young plants, or at least beginning so. Delia florilega (Zetterstedt) [Anthomyiidae]. ->Mine above ground. 2. 2> Leaf and stem mine. Oviposition takes place in the leaf blade where a short mine is formed until the larva reaches the nearest vein which is then followed downwards, with the main feeding occurring in the mid-rib, petiole, or in young plants, also in the stem. Puparium yellow Phytomyza rufipes Meigen [Agromyzidae]. ->Mine entirely in leaf, not in the petiole or stem. 3. 3> Mine primarily associated with mid-rib. A distinctive mine with irregular short lateral offshoots into leaf blade. Pupation external.     Mines of Liriomyza strigata on Sonchus. Image: Crown copyright - courtesy of CSL Liriomyza strigata (Meigen) [Agromyzidae]. ->Corridor-blotch mine, normally dorsal; usually whitish; in small leaves it lies characteristically in the centre of the leaf often touching the petiole; in larger leaves it lies to one side of the mid-rib. Frass deposited in green clumps near the leaf margin. Pupation usually external, sometimes in a separate pupation mine. Mine of Scaptomyza flava on Brassica rapa. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Scaptomyza flava (Fallén) [Drosophilidae]. -> Mine not primarily associated with mid-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. Puparium whitish Mine of Chromatomyia horticola on Papaver rhoeas. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Chromatomyia horticola (Goureau) [Agromyzidae].

Last updated 29-Jul-2008  Brian Pitkin

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