The leaf and stem  mines of British flies and other insects by Brian Pitkin, Willem Ellis, Colin Plant and Rob Edmunds


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CENTAUREA. Knapweeds, Star-thistles and Cornflowers. [Asteraceae]


Forty species of Centaurea are recorded in Britain. These include the native Common Knapweed (C. nigra), Greater Knapweed (C. scabiosa) and Slender Knapweed (C. debeauxii) and introduced Knapweeds, Star-thistles and Cornflowers.

Seven dipterous miners, the agromyzids Chromatomyia 'atricornis', Liriomyza centaureae, Liriomyza strigata, Phytomyza autumnalis, Phytomyza cinerea, Phytomyza continua and Phytomyza spinaciae are recorded on Centaurea in Britain, but the record of Phytomyza continua requires confirmation.

The agromyzids Melanagromyza oligophaga and Napomyza hirticornis are recorded boring stems of Centaurea in Britain.

Common Knapweed - Centaurea nigra Image:  Brian Pitkin
Common Knapweed - Centaurea nigra

The agromyzid Liriomyza trifolii, a polyphagous pest species of ornamental and vegetable crops occasionally intercepted at UK points of entry, is recorded on Centaurea and has been found under glass in England and Wales. All populations have been and continue to be eradicated.

The tephritid Philophylla caesio is tentatively recorded on Centaurea in Britain. It is recorded as a petiole miner on Urtica elsewhere.

Elsewhere the agromyzids Aulagromyza similis, Chromatomyia horticola, Liriomyza bryoniae, Liriomyza centaureae, Liriomyza strigata, Liriomyza trifolii, Ophiomyia curvipalpis, Phytomyza autumnalis, Phytomyza cinerea and Phytomyza spoliata are recorded mining Centaurea.

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

Five non-dipterous leaf- miners are recorded on Centaurea in Britain (see below).

Elsewhere three additional British non-dipterous miners are recorded on Centaurea (see below).




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




1> Mine primarily associated with mid-rib.

2.

->Mine not primarily associated with mid-rib.

3.

2> A distinctive mine, with irregular short lateral offshoots into leaf blade. Pupation external.

Mine of Liriomyza strigata on Sonchus. Image:  Crown copyright - courtesy of CSL Mine of Liriomyza strigata on Sonchus. Image:  Crown copyright - courtesy of CSL Mine of Liriomyza strigata on Sonchus. Image:  Crown copyright - courtesy of CSL
  Mine of Liriomyza strigata on Sonchus. Image:  Crown copyright - courtesy of CSL  
Mines of Liriomyza strigata on Sonchus. Image: Crown copyright - courtesy of CSL

Liriomyza strigata (Meigen) [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. Puparium whitish. Record on Centaurea requires confirmation.

Phytomyza continua Hendel [Agromyzidae].

3> Several larvae feed together. Mine a brownish blotch, at apex of leaf segment,. Pupation in mine. Puparium brown

Phytomyza cinerea Hendel [Agromyzidae].

-> Larvae feed singly.

4.

4> 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)
Mines of Phytomyza spinaciae on Cirsium arvense.
Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders)

Phytomyza spinaciae Hendel [Agromyzidae].

->Mine not interparenchymal.

5.

5> Mine linear, whitish, both upper and lower surface. Pupation internal, at the end of the mine, with the anterior spiracles projecting through the epidermis.

Mines of Chromatomyia atricornis on Sonchus olearaceus (upper surface). Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Mines of Chromatomyia atricornis on Sonchus olearaceus (lower surface). Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders)
Mine of Chromatomyia atricornis on Sonchus olearaceus.
Images: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders)

Chromatomyia 'atricornis' auctt. [Agromyzidae].

->A short irregular linear mine with frass in more or less connected threads.

Mine of Liriomyza centaurea on Centaurea scabiosa. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders)
Mine of Liriomyza centaurea on Centaurea scabiosa.
Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders)

Liriomyza centaureae Hering [Agromyzidae].

->Mine long, distinctly greenish. Pupation in mine. Puparium white in early generations and black and shiny in autumn

Mine of Phytomyza autumnalis on Centaurea nigra, ex Spencer Collection. Image: Brian Pitkin
Mine of Phytomyza autumnalis on Centaurea nigra ( Spencer Collection).
Image: Brian Pitkin

Phytomyza autumnalis Griffiths [Agromyzidae].



Non-dipterous miners recorded on Centaurea in Britain

Coleophora conspicuella Zeller, 1849 Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae   Nederlandse bladmineerders Fauna Europaea
Coleophora paripennella Zeller, 1839 Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae British Leafminers UKMoths Nederlandse bladmineerders Fauna Europaea
Jordanita globulariae (Hübner, 1793) Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae   UKMoths Nederlandse bladmineerders Fauna Europaea
Orthochaetes setiger (Beck, 1817) Lepidoptera: Curculionidae     Nederlandse bladmineerders Fauna Europaea
Pseudorchestes pratensis (Germar, 1821) Lepidoptera: Curculionidae     Nederlandse bladmineerders Fauna Europaea

Additional British non-dipterous miners recorded on Arctium elsewhere

Agonopterix propinquella (Treitschke, 1835) Lepidoptera: Depressariidae   UKMoths Nederlandse bladmineerders Fauna Europaea
Coleophora peribenanderi Toll, 1943 Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae British Leafminers UKMoths Nederlandse bladmineerders Fauna Europaea
Scrobipalpa acuminatella (Sircom, 1850) Lepidoptera: Incurvariidae British Leafminers UKMoths Nederlandse bladmineerders Fauna Europaea



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Last updated 19-Aug-2008  Brian Pitkin

 

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