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CAREX. Sedges. [Cyperaceae]

Ninety species of Carex are recorded in Britain, most of them native. They include Lesser Pond-sedge (C. acutiformis), Hairy Sedge (C. hirta), False Fox-sedge (C. otrubae), Carnation Sedge (C. panicea), Greater Tussock-sedge (C. paniculata), Pendulous Sedge (C. pendula), Cyperus Sedge (C. pseudocyperus), Bottle Sedge (C. rostrata), Wood-sedge (C. sylvatica) and Bladder-sedge (C. vesicaria). Starved Wood-sedge (C. depauperata) is protected under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 and along with Few-flowered Sedge (C. pauciflora) is protected in Northern Ireland under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order, 1985. Eleven dipterous miners, the agromyzids Cerodontha angulata, Cerodontha caricicola, Cerodontha eucaricis, Cerodontha pseuderrans, Cerodontha scirpi, Cerodontha spinata, Cerodontha suturalis, Metopomyza flavonotata, Metopomyza scutellata and Metopomyza xanthaspis and the ephydrid Hydrellia griseola are recorded or tentatively recorded on Carex in Britain. Three of the species recorded on Carex, Cerodontha angulata, Cerodontha suturalis and Hydrellia griseola, are also recorded or tentatively recorded on Scirpus in Britain. A single key is provided here to the mines of both host genera. Elsewhere the agromyzids Cerodontha angulata, Cerodontha caricicola, Cerodontha eucaricis, ? Cerodontha geniculata, Cerodontha mellita, Cerodontha morosa, Cerodontha pseuderrans, Cerodontha scutellaris, Cerodontha spinata, Cerodontha suturalis, Metopomyza scutellata and Metopomyza xanthaspis, and the ephydrid Hydrellia griseola are recorded mining Carex. Ten non-dipterous miners are recorded on Carex in Britain (see below). Elsewhere six additional British non-dipterous miners are recorded on Carex (see below).

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

1>A long yellowish green leaf mine. Pupation external, puparium frequently adhering to leaf. Puparium dark brown Mine of Cerodontha angulata on Carex pendula. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Cerodontha (Butomyza) angulata (Loew) [Agromyzidae]. ->A long narrow greenish/yellowish mine Pupation in leaf at end of mine. Puparium can be yellowish but is more normally dark brown Mine of Cerodontha caricicola on Carex sylvatica. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Cerodontha (Dizygomyza) caricicola (Hering) [Agromyzidae]. -> Linear mine. Pupation either in the leaf at end of mine or externally. Puparium dark brown Mines of Cerodontha eucaricis on Carex hirta. Images: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Cerodontha (Butomyza) eucaricis Nowakowski [Agromyzidae]. -> Mine in the leaf apex. Frass in a few large lumps. Pupation within the mine Cerodontha (Butomyza) pseuderrans (Hendel) [Agromyzidae] ->A very long mine. Pupation in mine at base of leaf. Puparium brown Cerodontha (Butomyza) scirpi (Karl) [Agromyzidae]. ->Upper surface mine that finishes in the leaf sheath. Mine changes direction at least twice. Frass in one large lump. Pupation in the mine, usually in the leaf sheath. Cerodontha (Dizygomyza) spinata (Groschke) [Agromyzidae]. ->Mines and larvae indistinguishable from C. morosa. Mine relatively short and broad, not extending into leaf base. Pupation in the mine (Spencer, 1976: 219). The mine is illustrated in Nederlandse bladmineerders. Mine of Cerodontha suturalis on Carex arenaria. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Cerodontha (Dizygomyza) suturalis (Hendel, 1931) [Diptera: Agromyzidae] -> An upper surface, deep, narrow mine; frass in two regular rows; pupation external. Metopomyza flavonotata (Haliday) [Agromyzidae]. -> Upper-surface corridor, descending towards the leaf base, generally following the midrib. Frass in a double row of granules. Pupation outside the mine. Metopomyza scutellata (Fallén)[Diptera: Agromyzidae] ->Mine initially lower surface running towards the apex, later continuing down towards the leaf base on the upper surface (developing into a broad blotch, with frass scattered irregularly). Pupation external. Metopomyza xanthaspis (Loew) [Agromyzidae]. ->Irregularly formed mine, very shallow and as a result, whitish in colour. In broad leaved plants frequently star-shaped and sometimes a very shallow corridor. In grasses the mine frequently starts in the leaf sheath. The frass is finely grained, initially irregularly spread, later in clumps. The larva may mine more than one leaf. Pupation in separate mine (sometimes even on another plant) without frass. Puparium whitish to dark grey Mine of Hydrellia griseola on Glyceria fluitans. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Hydrellia griseola (Fallén) [Ephydridae].

Non-dipterous miners recorded on Carex in Britain Elachista albidella Nylander, 1848 Lepidoptera: Elachistidae Elachista alpinella Stainton, 1854 Lepidoptera: Elachistidae     Elachista biatomella (Stainton, 1848) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae     Elachista cinereopunctella (Haworth, 1828) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae     Elachista gleichenella (Fabricius, 1781) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae     Elachista humilis Zeller, 1850 Lepidoptera: Elachistidae     Elachista kilmunella Stainton, 1849 Lepidoptera: Elachistidae       Elachista serricornis (Stainton, 1854) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae Elachista utonella Frey, 1856 Lepidoptera: Elachistidae     Monochroa arundinetella (Stainton, 1858) Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae     Additional British non-dipterous miners recorded on Carex elsewhere Donacaula forficella (Thunberg, 1794) Lepidoptera: Crambidae   Elachista adscitella Stainton, 1851 Lepidoptera: Elachistidae   Elachista atricomella Stainton, 1849 Lepidoptera: Elachistidae   Elachista bisulcella (Duponchel, 1843) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae     Elachista eleochariella Stainton, 1851 Lepidoptera: Elachistidae     Elachista subalbidella Schläger, 1847 Lepidoptera: Elachistidae

Last updated 23-Sep-2008  Brian Pitkin

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