CYCLAMEN. Cyclamens and Sowbreads. [Primulaceae]

Five species of Cyclamen are recorded in Britain. All are introduced.

No Diptera miners are recorded on Cyclamen in Britain.

Elsewhere the agromyzid Liriomyza huidobrensis is recorded mining Cyclamen.

One non-Diptera leaf-miner, Orthochaetes setiger, is recorded on Cyclamen in Britain (see below).

Elsewhere one additional British non-Diptera miner, Cnephasia incertana, is recorded on Cyclamen (see below).

A key to the European miners, based on characteristics of the mines, immature stages and where relevant the larval cases, recorded on Cyclamen is provided in Bladmineerders van Europa. This includes Liriomyza cyclaminis, Cnephasia incertana, Cnephasia lineata, Cnephasia stephensiana but not Cnephasia ecullyana, Orthochaetes setiger or Liriomyza huidobrensis.

Sowbread
Cyclamen hederifolium

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

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: 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 Cyclamen, in Britain. Recorded on numerous genera and species of plant families including Cyclamen elsewhere. Widespread in Britain and continental Europe. Also recorded from the Channel Is.

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

1b > The mine begins in the midrib, especially in a lower leaf, extending into the leaf disc, branching irregularly or pinnately, may also locally be blotch like. The mine is brown and very transparent. Sides very irregularly eaten out. Frass loosely dispersed or in a loose central line, buy may also be pressed against the sides of the corridor. The larva may also leave the mine and restart elsewhere (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Recorded on numerous genera and species in several plant families, including Cyclamen, in Britain and elsewhere. Widespread in England and continental Europe. Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland.

Orthochaetes setiger (Beck, 1817) [Coleoptera: Curculionidae]