CHENOPODIUM. Fat-hen, Good-King-Henry and Goosefoots. [Chenopodiaceae]

Fifty species of Chenopodium are recorded in Britain. These include the native Fat-hen (C. album), Fig-leaved Goosefoot (C. ficifolium), Many-seeded Goosefoot (C. polyspermum), Maple-leaved Goosefoot (C. hybridum), Nettle-leaved Goosefoot (C. murale), Red Goosefoot (C. rubrum), Saltmarsh Goosefoot (C. chenopodioides), Stinking Goosefoot (C. vulvaria) and Upright Goosefoot (C. urbicum).

Stinking Goosefoot (C. vulvaria) is protected under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981.

Five Diptera miners, the agromyzids Amauromyza chenopodivora and Chromatomyia horticola and the anthomyiids Pegomya hyoscyami and Pegomya interuptella are recorded on Chenopodium in Britain.

The British anthomyiids Delia echinata and Pegomya conformis are recorded on Chenopodium by Ackland in Chandler (1978), but it is not clear whether these host association are British or Foreign (see AGROSTEMMA).

Elsewhere the agromyzids Amauromyza chenopodivora, Amauromyza flavifrons, Chromatomyia horticola, Liriomyza bryoniae, Liriomyza huidobrensis, Liriomyza sativae and Liriomyza trifolii; the drosophilid Scaptomyza graminum; the anthomyiids Delia echinata, Pegomya betae, Pegomya conformis, Pegomya cunicularia, Pegomyza exilis, Pegomya hyoscyami and Pegomya interuptella are recorded mining Chenopodium.

Although previously recorded as a miner in stems of Chenopodium. Botanophila fugax is a common saprophagous species, the larvae normally feeding in the soil (G.C.D. Griffiths, pers. comm.).

Four non-Diptera miners are recorded on Chenopodium in Britain (see below).

Elsewhere one additional British non-Diptera miner is recorded on Chenopodium (see below).

The coleophorid Coleophora saxicolella is recorded as a seed-feeder on Chenopodium in Britain.

A key to the European miners, based on characteristics of the mines, immature stages and where relevant the larval cases, recorded on Chenopodium is provided in Bladmineerders van Europa. This includes Amauromyza chenopodivora, Amauromyza flavifrons, Chromatomyia horticola, Delia echinata, Liriomyza bryoniae, Pegomya species, Pegomya betae, Pegomya cunicularia, Pegomya hyoscyami, Scaptomyza graminum, Calybites phasianipennella, Chrysoesthia drurella, Chrysoesthia sexguttella, Chrysoesthia verrucosa, Cnephasia asseclana, Cnephasia incertana, Cnephasia stephensiana, Coleophora sternipennella, Psilopa leucostoma, Scrobipalpa atriplicella, Scrobipalpa nitentella, Scrobipalpa obsoletella.

Key for the identification of British non-Diptera mines recorded on
Chenopodium

Note: The larvae of mining Coleoptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera may live in a corridor mine, a corridor-blotch mine, a blotch mine, a case, a rolled or folded leaf, a tentiform mine or sandwiched between two more or less circular leaf sections in later instars. Larva may pupate in a silk cocoon. The larva may have at least six legs (although they may be reduced or absent), a head capsule and chewing mouthparts with opposable mandibles (see video of a gracillarid larva feeding). Larvae of Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera usually also have abdominal legs (see examples). Frass, if present, never in two rows. Unless feeding externally from within a case the larva usually vacates the mine by chewing an exit hole. Pupa with visible head appendages, wings and legs which lie in sheaths (see examples).

1a > Leaf-miner: Initially a gallery is formed, this turning into a blotch, and later two successive conical leaf-rolls (UKMoths). Initially a pale, later brown, usually lower-surface blotch. The blotch is preceded by an epidermal corridor, but that may be obliterated by the later blotch. Silk at the inside of the mine causes it to buckle up a bit and fold. The reddish brown frass is accumulated in a corner of the mine. The older larva leaves the mine and continues feeding inside an untidy cone, made by cutting off a strip of leaf tissue and stitching it in place with silk (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Recorded on Fallopia, Lysimachia, Persicaria, Polygonum and Rumex, but not yet on Chenopodium, in Britain and Chenopodium, Lysimachia, Lythrum, Persicaria, Oxyria, Persicaria, Polygonum and Rumex elsewhere. Occurring locally in England, Scotland and parts of Ireland. Widespread in continental Europe.

Calybites phasianipennella (Hübner, 1813) [Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae].

Recorded on Atriplex and Chenopodium in Britain plus Amaranthus and Monolepis elsewhere. Widespread in Britain and continental Europe.

Chrysoesthia drurella (Fabricius, 1775) [Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae].

1c > Leaf-miner: Whitish blotches in the leaves (UKMoths). The mine begins as a short zigzagging corridor, that very soon becomes overrun by a large, perfectly transparent blotch. Frass in a big black central lump. In fresh mines something like primary feeding lines are recognisable, normally seen only in Diptera mines. Pupation external, exit a rather untidy hole (Bladmineerders van Europa). A large, whitish blotch sometimes occupying most or all of the leaf. The frass is mostly ejected from the mine. (British leafminers).

Recorded on Atriplex and Chenopodium in Britain plus Amaranthus, Bassia and Spinacia elsewhere. Widespread in Britain and continental Europe.

Chrysoesthia sexguttella (Thunberg, 1794) [Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae].

1d > Leaf-miner: In the first instar the larva mines the leaves, forming short, irregular, blotch-like mines, but in later instars it lives externally, feeding in spun leaves and often twisting those of tender shoots. Larval head light-brown or yellowish brown, edged with black postero-laterally, ocellar area blackish; prothoracic plate black edged with whitish anteriorly; abdomen dull dark green; pinacula distinct, black, sometimes brownish but with black bases to setae; anal plate large, black (Bradley et al., 1973). Small, full depth mine without a definite shape; little frass. Some silk is deposited in the mine. The larva soon leaves the mine and continues feeding among spun leaves (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Recorded on numerous genera and species of plant families, but not yet on Chenopodium, in Britain. Recorded on numerous genera and species of plant families including Chenopodium elsewhere. Widespread in Britain and continental Europe. Also recorded from the Channel Is.

 

Cnephasia incertana (Treitschke, 1835) [Lepidoptera: Tortricidae].

1e > Leaf-miner: Young larvae make irregular corridor-like or blotch-like mines from a silken tube. The mines contain almost no frass (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Recorded on Atriplex and Chenopodium in Britain and elsewhere. Widespread in Britain and continental Europe. Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland.

 

Scrobipalpa atriplicella (Fischer von Röslerstamm, 1841) [Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae].

1f > Leaf-miner: The first instar larva tends to make a U-shaped mine, whereas later larvae make irregular mines. Final instar larvae spin the leaves together and feed in a silken tube amongst the seeds (British leafminers). Young larvae make a short, spiralled corridor typically U-shaped). This stage is followed by an irregular, sometimes branching, greenish-white blotch. In their final stage the larva lives free in a silken tunnel among the leaves (Bladmineerders van Europa). Pupation in a cocoon of sand grains and detritus (British leafminers).

Recorded on Cakile, Atriplex, Beta, Chenopodium, Salicornia, Sarcocornia and Suaeda in Britain.and Atriplex, Beta, Chenopodium, Salicornia and Suaeda elsewhere. One of the commonest gelechid moths on saltings in the British Isles. Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland. Widespread in continental Europe.