Cirsium [Asteraceae]

CIRSIUM. Thistles. [Asteraceae]

Fifteen species of Cirsium are recorded in Britain. These include the native Creeping Thistle (C. arvense), Dwarf Thistle (C. acaule), Marsh Thistle (C. palustre), Meadow Thistle (C. dissectum), Melancholy Thistle (C. heterophyllum), Spear Thistle (C. vulgare), Tuberous Thistle (C. tuberosum) and Woolly Thistle (C. eriophorum) and the introduced Cabbage Thistle (C. oleraceum).

Melancholy Thistle (C. heterophyllum) is protected in Northern Ireland under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order, 1985.

Twelve Diptera miners, the agromyzids Chromatomyia 'atricornis', Liriomyza soror, Liriomyza strigata, Melanagromyza aeneoventris, Phytomyza albiceps, ?Phytomyza autumnalis, Phytomyza cirsii, Phytomyza heterophylli and Phytomyza spinaciae, the anthomyiid Pegomya steini and the tephritid Trypeta zoe, are recorded on Cirsium in Britain. The tephritid Euleia heraclei is doubtfully recorded on Cirsium but is included in this key.

Wooly Thistle
Cirsium eriophorum

The agromyzid Melanagromyza aeneoventris bores the stems of Cirsium spp. in Britain and elsewhere.

Elsewhere the agromyzids Chromatomyia horticola, Liriomyza bryoniae, Liriomyza huidobrensis, Liriomyza soror, Liriomyza strigata, Liriomyza trifoli, Phytomyza albiceps, Phytomyza albiceps, Phytomyza autumnalis, Phytomyza cirsii, Phytomyza continua, Phytomyza spinaciae and possibly Phytomyza spoliata, the anthomyiid Pegomya steini; the tephritid Cornutrypeta spinifrons and the sciarid Phytosciara halterata are recorded mining Cirsium.

The agromyzid Melanagromyza eriolepidis is recorded on Cirsium by Spencer, 1990 251, but its life-style is not stated.

Seven non-Diptera miners are recorded on Cirsium in Britain (see below).

Elsewhere two British non-Diptera miners are recorded on Cirsium (see below).

A key to the miners on Cirsium is provided in Bladmineerders van Europa. This includes Agromyza apfelbecki, Chromatomyia cf. syngenesiae, Liriomyza bryoniae, Liriomyza soror, Liriomyza strigata, Pegomya steini, Pegomya terebrans, Phytomyza albiceps, Phytomyza autumnalis, Phytomyza cirsii, Phytomyza continua, Phytomyza heterophyll, Phytomyza spinaciae, Phytosciara macrotricha, Phytosciara halterata, Agonopterix arenella, Agonopterix carduella, Agonopterix ferocella, Agonopterix propinquella, Agonopterix subpropinquella, Apterona helicoidella, Apteropeda orbiculata, Coleophora paripennella, Coleophora peribenanderi, Cnephasia incertana, Cnephasia asseclana, Cnephasia lineata, Cnephasia stephensiana, Jordanita globulariae, Jordanita graeca, Jordanita notata, Orthochaetes insignis, Scrobipalpa acuminatella, Scrobipalpula psilella, Sphaeroderma rubidum, Sphaeroderma testaceum, Tebenna micalis but not Coleophora follicularis.

Key for the identification of the mines of British Diptera recorded on
Cirsium

Note: Diptera larvae may live in a corridor mine, a corridor-blotch mine, or a blotch mine, but never in a case, a rolled or folded leaf, a tentiform mine or sandwiched between two more or less circular leaf sections in later instars. Pupation never in a cocoon. All mining Diptera larvae are leg-less maggots without a head capsule (see examples). They never have thoracic or abdominal legs. They do not have chewing mouthparts, although they do have a characteristic cephalo-pharyngeal skeleton (see examples), usually visible internally through the body wall. The larvae lie on their sides within the mine and use their pick-like mouthparts to feed on plant tissue. In some corridor miners frass may lie in two rows on alternate sides of the mine. In order to vacate the mine the fully grown larva cuts an exit slit, which is usually semi-circular (see Liriomyza huidobrensis video). The pupa is formed within the hardened last larval skin or puparium and as a result sheaths enclosing head appendages, wings and legs are not visible externally (see examples).

1a > Leaf-miner: Blotch mine.

1b > Leaf-miner: Corridor mine.

2a > Leaf-miner: Large, very transparent blotch, with primary and secundary feeding lines. In the centre a concentration of black frass. Mines can coalesce, and then contain several larvae. At the start of the mine, at the leaf underside, a white egg shell. However, the larva can leave its mine and restart elsewehere, therefore mines without an egg shell may occur as well

Mine of Pegomya steini on Cirsium vulgare. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Bladmineerders van Europa)

Mine of Pegomya steini on Cirsium vulgare
Image: Willem Ellis (Bladmineerders van Europa)

On Carduus, Carlina, Cirsium and Cynara in Britain and elsewhere, although British records on Carduus and Carlina are ambiguous. Distibution in Britain unknown. Widespread in continental Europe.

Pegomya steini Hendel, 1925 [Diptera: Anthomyiidae].

2b > Leaf-miner: Mine starts near tip of leaf as a small dark brown blotch; it expands rapidly due to the presence of several larvae in the same mine. This expansion is on abroad front but usually down only one side of the midrib. The final mine is a large brownish subtriangular blotch, which is darkest oin the vicinity of the origin.Under a hand lens, the mine is clearly marked with mnay smll patches of parallel feeding-lines. The larvae leave the mine to pupate, but occasionally the puparia is attached to the leaf near to the exit slit. Puparium red brown

Recorded on Cirsium in Britain. Known only from the Southern highlands of Scotland.

Phytomyza heterophylli Bland, 1997 [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

2c > Leaf-miner: A large blotch, yellow or brown, preceded by a short corridor that in the end mostly is completely overrun. Generally several larvae share a mine. Especially in fresh mines the green primary and secondary feeding lines are well visible. Pupation outside the mine. Puparium yellow.

On numerous genera of Apiaceae and possibly some Asteraceae, but not yet on Cirsium, in Britain and elsewhere. Throughout the British Isles. Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland and most of the Palaearctic region, as far east as Afghanistan.

Euleia heraclei (Linnaeus, 1758) [Diptera: Tephritidae].

3a > Leaf-miner: A distinctive mine primarily above mid-rib, with irregular short lateral offshoots into leaf blade. Pupation external (Spencer, 1972: 51 (fig. 172), 55; Spencer, 1976: 270, 271 (fig. 486)). Branched, whitish, upper-surface corridor; main axis overlying the midrib; side branches overlying the main lateral veins. (In Campanula and Phyteuma the mine is much less branched, sometimes nothing more than a corridor on top of the midrib). Frass in rather long strings. Usually the mines begins as a long and narrow, shallow, tortuous lower-surface corridor that ends upon the midrib but otherwise is not associated with the leaf venation. Often this initial corridor is filled with callus, and then even less conspicuous. Pupation outside the mine (Bladmineerders van Europa). A linear mine on the upper surface, usually following the midrib and showing side branches along the veins. The frass is in strings (British leafminers).

On more than 40 host genera in 15 families in Britain including Cirsium. Widespread throughout Britain. Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland. Widespread in continental Europe.

Liriomyza strigata (Meigen, 1830) [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

3b > Leaf-miner: Mine not primarily associated with mid-rib.

4a > Leaf-miner: Mine linear, whitish, both upper and lower surface. Pupation internal, at the end of the mine with the anterior spiracles projecting through the epidermis (Spencer, 1976: 433). Upper-surface, less often lower-surface corridor. Frass in isolated grains. Pupation within the mine, in a, usually lower-surface, pupal chamber (Bladmineerders van Europa). A long whitish upper surface corridor, which eventually goes lower surface (British leafminers).

Two highly polyphagous species of Chromatomyia, with indistinguishable mines, have been recorded in Britain. These are syngenesiae (Hardy) and horticola (Goureau) which can only be distinguished by the male genitalia. Both are polyphagous and widespread in Britain and elsewhere, although syngenesiae is almost entirely restricted to Asteraceae (see also 'atricornis').

Chromatomyia 'atricornis' has been recorded on Cirsium in Britain.

Chromatomyia horticola (Goureau, 1851) [Diptera: Agromyzidae].
OR
Chromatomyia syngenesiae Hardy, 1849 [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

4b > Leaf-miner: A broad linear mine following the mid-rib, with irregular lateral offshoots. Puparium yellow

On numerous genera of Asteraceae, but not yet on Cirsium. Throughout the British Isles, more common in the south than the north. Also continental Europe.

Trypeta zoe Meigen, 1826 [Diptera: Tephritidae].

4c > Leaf-miner: An irregular linear mine. Strictly upper-surface corridor; often the loops are so close that a secondary blotch develops. The mine resembles a compact version of the one of Phytomyza cirsii. Frass at first in isolated grains, later in strings, not along the sides but untidily scattered over the mine

Recorded on Cirsium in Britain and elsewhere. Uncommon. Kent, Warwickshire and Cambridgeshire

Liriomyza soror Hendel, 1931 [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

4d > Leaf-miner: Long, irregular, whitish linear mine which turns brown when older and has conspicuous frass in large widely-spaced black lumps. Pupation external.

Recorded on Cirsium in Britain and elsewhere. A boreal alpine species known only from Yorkshire, Northumberland and Perth. Widespread in continental Europe

Phytomyza albiceps Meigen, 1830 [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

4e > Leaf-miner: 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

Recorded on Cirsium and Centaurea in Britain and also on Onorpordum elsewhere. Common and widespread in Britain. Also recorded from the Republic of Ireland. Widespread in continental Europe

Phytomyza autumnalis Griffiths, 1959 [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

4f > Leaf-miner: A shallow, upper surface, whitish linear mine. Pupation external. Puparium black

Mine of Phytomyza cirsii on Cirsium arvense. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Bladmineerders van Europa)

Mine of Phytomyza cirsii on Cirsium arvense
Image: Willem Ellis (Bladmineerders van Europa)

Recorded on Cirsium in Britain, plus Carduus, Cyanara, ? Scolymus and Serratula elsewhere. Widespread in Britain, probably not uncommon but overlooked. Also recorded from the Republic of Ireland. Widespread and common in much of Europe

Phytomyza cirsii Hendel, 1923 [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

4g > Leaf-miner: 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: Bladmineerders van Europa)

Mines of Phytomyza spinaciae on Cirsium arvense
Image: Willem Ellis (Bladmineerders van Europa)

On Carduus, Centaurea, Cirsium and Onopordum in Britain and in addition Cnicus and Serratula elsewhere. Only recorded from Warwick and Stafford in Britain. Also recorded in the Repupublic of Ireland. Widespread in continental Europe, range extending to the Kirghiz Republic of the [former] U.S.S.R.

Phytomyza spinaciae Hendel, 1928 [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

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

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 and case bearer: The larva lives outside the mine, protected by a case, and feeds on the underlying plant tisses via a hole cut in the epidermis. Mine does not contain frass (Coleophora species)

1b > Leaf-miner, but not a case-bearer: The larva lives mainly inside the mine. Mine usually contains frass. In later instars the larva may live sandwiched between two more or less circular sections cut from the leaf e.g. Incurvaria species.

2a > Leaf-miner and case-bearer: Larva mines leaves. On Eupatorium the case is extended at the anal end by adding silk and widened by cutting a ventral gusset. On Inula the case is firstly extended by adding rings of leaf-cuticle at the oral end, before reverting to the method used when on Eupatorium. The full-grown case is 10 mm long (British leafminers). A slender tubular silken case, about 10 mm long, straw coloured, three valved. Mouth angle about 30° (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Recorded on Cirsium, Eupatorium, Inula and Pulicaria in Britain and Achillea, Anthemis, Carduus, Cirsium, Eupatorium, Inula, Leucanthemum, Pulicaria and Tanacetum elsewhere. Widespread in England. Also recorded in Republic of Ireland. Widespread in continental Europe.

Coleophora follicularis (Vallot, 1802) [Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae].

2b > Leaf-miner and case-bearer: Larva mines leaves (British leafminers). The larva builds a case from silk, resembling a razor shell in appearance. (UKMoths). The full-grown case is 12 mm long and blackish-brown (British leafminers). The full grown larva lives in a blackish brown trivalved tubular silken case of about 8 mm. The mouth angle is 0°-10°, causing the case to lay almost flat on the leaf (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Recorded on Arctium, Centaurea, Cirsium, Serratula in Britain and Arctium, Carduus, Centaurea, Cirsium, Saussurea and Serratula elsewhere. Widespread in Britain, Ireland and continental Europe.

Coleophora paripennella Zeller, 1839 [Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae].

2c > Leaf-miner and case-bearer: The larva forms a case, approximately 11-12 mm long, beneath a thistle leaf, although burdock may sometimes be used. The shape of the ochreous case varies as, when being enlarged, it is elongated first, and the girth increased subsequently (UKMoths). Yellow-brown to light grey tubular silken case with darker length lines. The case is fairly large (up to 17 mm) and very slender. The rear end is three-valved, the mouth angle about 50°. The larva feeds at the underside of the leaf (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Recorded on Arctium, Carduus and Cirsium in Britain and Arctium, Carduus, Carlina, Centaurea and Cirsium elsewhere. England, Wales and southern Scotland. Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland. Widespread in continental Europe.

Coleophora peribenanderi Toll, 1943 [Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae].

3a > Leaf/Stem-mine: Initially mines basal leaves of Cirsium etc., before moving into the stem (Michael Morris, pers. comm.). Larva without abdominal legs.

Recorded on Cirsium in Britain. Hosts elsewhere unknown. Widespread in Britain and continental Europe. Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland.

Hadroplontus litura (Fabricius, 1775) [Coleoptera: Curculionidae].

3b > Leaf-miner: The eggs of this species are laid on a leaf, with the larvae mining the underside of the leaf, until a late instar when it feeds in a web under the midrib of the leaf, causing visible blotching on the upperside (UKMoths). Short, full depth corridor. The larva relatively long lives as a miner, but finally leaves the mine and continues living in spinning along the midrib at the leaf underside, from where windows are eaten in the leaf (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Agonopterix propinquella on Cirsium arvense

Recorded on Cirsium in Britain and Arctium, Carduus, Centaurea, Cirsium, Cynara, Mycelis and Serratula elsewhere. Widespread in Britain and continental Europe.

Agonopterix propinquella (Treitschke, 1835) [Lepidoptera: Depressariidae].

3c > Leaf-miner: Rather long full depth corridor that winds freely through the leaf and may cross itself. In the end the corridor widens considerably. Frass mostly in a narrow central line, but may also be deposited along the sides or be missing. The larvae regular leave a mine to restart elsewhere. Pupation outside the mine. Neither larva or mine can be distinguished from that of related species (Bladmineerders van Europa). Larva without abdominal legs.

Recorded on numerous genera and species in several plant families, including Cirsium, in Britain and elsewhere. Widespread in Britain and continental Europe.

Apteropeda orbiculata (Marsham, 1802) [Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae].

3d > 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 Cirsium, in Britain. Recorded on numerous genera and species of plant families including Cirsium elsewhere. Quite common throughout much of the British Isles, in woodland edges and hedgerows. Widespread in Britain and continental Europe. Also recorded from the Channel Is.

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

3e > Leaf-miner: The larva makes a large number of untidy full depth mines. The mines contain hardly or no frass. The opening made by the larva in the underside of the leaf is irregular roundish, sometimes more of a slit, large in proportion to the size of the mine, and usually positioned at the side of the mine. The larva mines until just before the pupation, that takes place externally (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Recorded on Centaurea, but not yet on Cirsium, in Britain and Centaurea, Cirsium and Globularia elsewhere. Widespread but scarce in southern England from Wilts to Kent. Widespread in continental Europe.

Jordanita globulariae (Hübner, 1793) [Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae].

3f > Leaf-miner: Rather narrow corridor, untidy and sometimes branched, starting from the base of the leaf, in particular the midrib. Sides of the corridor irregularly eaten out, not really parallel. Frass mostly present, and then in a central line. The legless larva is capable of leaving the mine and start a new one elsewhere. These later mines are much broader, and the frass is scattered irregularly. (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Recorded on numerous genera and species in several plant families, including Cirsium in Britain and elsewhere. Recorded in southern England. Widespread in continental Europe.

Orthochaetes insignis (Aube, 1863) [Coleoptera: Curculionidae].

3g > Leaf-miner: The mine is brownish and extends along the midrib, sometimes branching (British leafminers). Oviposition on top of the midrib. Immediately after emergence the larva gnaws a cavity in the midrib, and from there an irregular blotch is made adjacent to the midrib. The larva continues living in the midrib that is gradully hollowed out, making from there broad, brownish, full depth excursions in the blade. The mine contains much frass; most of it is concentrated in the area immediately bordering the midrib. Older, no longer occupied parts of the mine often split open. Mines mainly on the lower leaves. The slender larvae move surprisingly fast upon disturbance; when they rest (in daytime) they lie lengthwise in the hollowed midrib. Pupation outside the mine (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Recorded on Artemisia, Carduus, Cirsium and possibly Tussilago in Britain and Carduus and Cirsium elsewhere. Records from Carlina vulgaris and Tussilago farfara are probably incidental. Widespread in Britain and continental Europe.

Scrobipalpa acuminatella (Sircom, 1850) [Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae]


	Last updated 04-Feb-2012 Brian Pitkin