CORONILLA. Scorpion-vetches. [Fabaceae]

Three introduced species of Coronilla are recorded in Britain. These include Annual Scorpion-vetch (C. scorpioides), Scorpion-vetch (C. coronata) and Shrubby Scorpion-vetch (C. valentina).

No Diptera miners are recorded on Coronilla in Britain.

Elsewhere the agromyzids Liriomyza bryoniae, Liriomyza cicerina, Liriomyza congesta and Phytoliriomyza variegata are recorded mining Coronilla.

No non-Diptera miners are recorded on Coronilla in Britain.

Elsewhere three or four British non-Diptera miners are recorded on Coronilla (see below).

A key to the European miners, based on characteristics of the mines, immature stages and where relevant the larval cases, recorded on Coronilla including Securigera is provided in Bladmineerders van Europa. This includes Liriomyza bryoniae, Liriomyza congesta, Liriomyza cicerina, Liriomyza coronillae, Phytoliriomyza variegata, Aproaerema anthyllidella, Apterona helicoidella, Coleophora colutella, Coleophora coronillae, Coleophora flaviella, Coleophora fuscociliella, Coleophora sisteronica, Coleophora vicinella, Cnephasia asseclana, Cnephasia stephensiana, Leucoptera lotella, Syncopacma cincticulella, Syncopacma vinella, Trifurcula cryptella, Trifurcula ortneri but not Agromyza nana or Liriomyza strigata or ? Coleophora discordella.

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

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: The first generation initially forms an unmistakable leaf-mine on Anthyllis vulneraria, but the second generation feeds on the flowers. Feeding signs on other plants vary in appearance. Larvae can move between sewn leaves, and more than one larva may be found together (UKMoths). Larvae in a small full depth blotch, often with extensions. Frass concentrated in one corner of the mine. The mining activities may cause the leaf to roll inwards. Older larvae live free among spun leaves, but still they may make then full depth mines by feeding on the leaf tissue from a small opening (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Recorded on Anthyllis, Medicago, Onobrychis, Ononis and Trifolium in Britain and Anthyllis, Chamaecytisus, Coronilla, Cysisus, Dorycnium, Galega, Glycine, Hymenocarpus, Lathyrus , Lotus, Medicago, Melilotus, Onobrychis, Ononis, Ornithopus, Oxytropis, Phaseolus, Psoralea, Trifolium, Trigonella and Vicia elsewhere. Britain including the Channel Is. and Northern Ireland. Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland. Widespread in continental Europe.

Aproaerema anthyllidella (Hübner, 1813) [Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae]

1b > Leaf miner: The frass is arranged in a spiral and a circular blotch is formed (British leafminers). Egg at the underside of the leaf. The mine is an upper-surface blotch without anything like a preceding corridor. The blotch is about circular, but my have broad lobes. Black frass grains lie in indistinct arcs or spirals, glued to the upper epidermis, and forming a cark central patch. The larva can leave a mined leaf, and restart elsewhere. Pupation external (Bladmineerders van Europa). Cocoon spun beneath the leaf (British leafminers).

Recorded on Lotus in Britain and Coronilla, Dorycnium, Lotus, Securigera and Tetragonolobus elsewhere. South-east England. Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland. Widespread in continental Europe.

Leucoptera lotella (Stainton, 1859) [Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae].

1c > Leaf miner: An initial gallery, which usually follows the leaf margin. Then forms a blotch, mining from the leaf base to the tip. The presence of a pupa in the mine is unusual for this species and may indicate parasitism (British leafminers). Oviposition on the leaf underside. The mine begins as a long corridor with a very broad, green frass line. This corridor suddenly widens into a broad blotch, that in the end may occupy almost an entire leaflet. The blotch generally begins in the leaf base, and it is here that most frass is concentrated. Shortly before pupation the larva leaves its mine through an exit slit in the lower epidermis. After the mine has been vacated the leaflet drops off (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Recorded on Lotus corniculatus and Lotus pendunculatus, but not yet on Coronilla, in Britain and Anthyllis, Coronilla, Hippocrepis, Lotus and Securigera elsewhere. Widespread in Britain. Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland. Widespread in continental Europe.

Trifurcula cryptella (Stainton, 1856) [Lepidoptera: Nepticulidae].