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CARDUUS. Welted Thistles [Asteraceae]

Twelve species of Carduus are recorded in Britain. These include the native Musk Thistle (C. nutans), Slender Thistle (C. tenuiflorus) and Welted Thistle (C. crispus). Three dipterous miners, the agromyzids Phytomyza continua and Phytomyza spinaciae and the anthomyiid Pegomya steini, are recorded on Carduus in Britain. The agromyzid Liriomyza huidobrensis, a polyphagous pest species of ornamental and vegetable crops occasionally intercepted at UK points of entry, is recorded on Carduus and has been found under glass in England and Wales. All populations have been and continue to be eradicated. Elsewhere the agromyzids Chromatomyia horticola, Liriomyza huidobrensis, Liriomyza strigata, Phytomyza cirsii, Phytomyza continua and Phytomyza spinaciae, and the anthomyiid Pegomya steini are recorded mining Carduus. Elsewhere the agromyzids Melanagromyza aeneoventris and Napomyza lateralis are recorded boring the stems of Carduus. Two non-dipterous miners are recorded on Carduus in Britain (see below). Elsewhere one additional British non-dipterous miner is recorded on Carduus (see below).

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

1>Blotch mine; frass in a string. Mine of Pegomya steini on Cirsium vulgare. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Pegomya steini Hendel [Anthomyiidae]. ->Long narrow interparenchymal mine, greenish. Pupation in leaf at end of mine. Puparium white Mines of Phytomyza spinaciae on Cirsium arvense. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Phytomyza spinaciae Hendel [Agromyzidae]. ->Larva feeds along the mid-rib, predominantly on the lower surface and there is little evidence of gall-like swelling. Pupation takes place at the base of the midrib. Phytomyza continua Hendel, 1920 [Diptera: Agromyzidae]

Non-dipterous miners recorded on Carduus in Britain Coleophora peribenanderi Toll, 1943 Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae Scrobipalpa acuminatella (Sircom, 1850) Lepidoptera: Incurvariidae Additional British non-dipterous miners recorded on Carduus elsewhere Agonopterix propinquella (Treitschke, 1835) Lepidoptera: Depressariidae

Last updated 09-Sep-2008  Brian Pitkin

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