CLINOPODIUM. Basil Thyme, Calamints and Wild Basil. [Lamiaceae]

Seven species of Clinopodium are recorded in Britain. These include the native Basil Thyme (C. acinos), Common Calamint (C. ascendens), Lesser Calamint (C. calamintha), Wood Calamint (C. menthifolium) and Wild Basil (C. vulgare).

Wood Calamint (C. menthifolium) is protected under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981.

One Diptera miner, the agromyzids Phytomyza obscura, is recorded on Clinopodium in Britain.

Elsewhere the British agromyzids Chromatomyia horticola, Ophiomyia curvipalpis and Phytomyza obscura are recorded mining Clinopodium.

Three non-Diptera miners are recorded on Clinopodium in Britain (see below).

A key to the European miners, based on characteristics of the mines, immature stages and where relevant the larval cases, recorded on Clinopodium (including Acinos, Calamintha, Satureja, Calamint, Savory) is provided in Bladmineerders van Europa. This includes ? Chromatomyia horticola, Ophiomyia curvipalpis, Phytomyza obscura, Apterona helicoidella, Apteropeda orbiculata, Coleophora albitarsella, Stephensia brunnichella on Clinopodium.

N.B. The key to mines below includes mines recorded on Clinopodium and Nepeta (Lamiaceae).

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

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)

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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.

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2 > Leaf-miner and case-bearer: Blotch mines reaching the edge of the leaf, initially pale green turning brownish white, are caused by the larva feeding on the underside of a leaf (UKMoths). The fully developed case is slender, shining black brown, about 9 mm long. Towards the end a narrow, transparent yellowish ventral keel. Mouth angle 50-60°. Cases on the leaf underside (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Recorded on Calamintha, Clinopodium, Glechoma, ? Lycopus, Mentha, Nepeta, Origanum, Prunella, Salvia, Stachys and Thymus in Britain plus Melissa, Melittis and Satureja but not Clinopodium elsewhere. Throughout England and Wales and a few places in Scotland. Widespread in continental Europe.

Coleophora albitarsella Zeller, 1849 [Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae].

3a > Leaf-miner: Rather long corridor winding through the leaf, regularly crossing itself. The corridor later widens considerably. Frass normally in a narrow central line, but may also lie along the side, or be absent. The larva regularly leaves a mine and restarts elsewhere (Bladmineerders van Europa). Larva without abdominal legs.

Recorded on Lamiastrum galeobdolon and Lamium album, but not yet on Clinopodium, in Britain plus Ajuga reptans, Clinopodium vulgare, Lamium, Prunella, Stachys, Teucrium, Plantago major, Veronica, chamaedrys and Veronica longifolia elsewhere. Widespread in England and continental Europe.

Apteropeda globosa (Illiger, 1794) [Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae].

3b > 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, but not yet on Clinopodium, in Britain. Recorded on numerous genera and species in several plant families, including Clinopodium, elsewhere. Widespread in Britain and continental Europe.

 

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

3c > Leaf-miner: Egg at the underside of the leaf, in the basal part, near the midrib. The mine begins as a long, narrow, full depth gallery running towards the leaf tip; frass here in a narrow central line. After the leaf tip has been reached a large, full depth, brown blotch is made. Much silk is deposited within, strongly contracting the mine and making it opaque. Frass lies in big black lumps here either in the oldest part, or in the centre, of the blotch. The larvae are capable of leaving their mine and restarting elsewhere, in which case the initial corridor is missing. Larvae of the first generation hibernate in the mine. Pupation external, in a white spinning, often between the leaves of the hostplant (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Recorded on Clinopodium in Britain and elsewhere. East Kent, North Hants and North Wilts in Britain. Widespread in continental Europe.

 

Stephensia brunnichella (Linnaeus, 1767) [Lepidoptera: Elachistidae].

Recorded on Glechoma, but not yet on Clinopodium, in Britain and ? Clinopodium, Glechoma, ? Marrubium, Mentha, ? Nepeta and ? Stachys elsewhere. Widespread in Britain and continental Europe.