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DACTYLIS. Cock's-foots. [Poaceae]

Two species of Dactylis are recorded in Britain. These include the native Cock's-foot (D. glomerata) and the introduced Slender Cock's-foot (D. polygama). Thirteen dipterous miners, the agromyzids Agromyza albipennis, Agromyza cinerascens, Agromyza lucida, Agromyza nigrella, Agromyza nigrociliata, Agromyza rondensis, Cerodontha atra, Cerodontha flavocingulata, Cerodontha incisa, Cerodontha lateralis, Cerodontha pygmaea, Chromatomyia nigra, Liriomyza flaveola and Pseudonapomyza atra, are recorded on Dactylis in Britain. One of these miners is also recorded on Setaria and Trisetum. The key below distinguishes only Chromatomyia nigra from the rest. Miners on grasses should, where possible, be reared to confirm their identity. Elsewhere the agromyzids Agromyza cinerascens, Agromyza nigrella, Agromyza nigrociliata, Agromyza rondensis, Cerodontha denticornis, Cerodontha flavocingulata, Cerodontha incisa, Cerodontha muscina, Cerodontha pygmaea, Cerodontha superciliosa, Chromatomyia fuscula, Chromatomyia nigra, Liriomyza flaveola, Liriomyza phryne and Pseudonapomyza atra and the ephydrid Hydrellia griseola are recorded mining Dactylis. Eleven non-dipterous miners are recorded on Dactylis in Britain (see below). Elsewhere one additional British non-dipterous miner is recorded on Dactylis (see below).

Key for the identification of the known Diptera mines in Britain.

1> Mine long, narrow, whitish. Pupation internal. Puparium yellowish-brown, anterior spiracles projecting through the epidermis Mine of Chromatomyia nigra on Arrhenatherum elatius. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Chromatomyia nigra (Meigen) [Agromyzidae]. -> Pupation external or internal. If internal then anterior posterior spiracles not projecting through the epidermis. 2 2> Broad elongated mine; the form is dependent of the leaf form of the host plant. Frass green. Usually a number of larvae together in a mine. Pupation internal. Puparium shining, metallic blue-black, loosely attached by silk, Cerodontha (Poemyza) incisa (Meigen) [Agromyzidae]. -> Normally several larvae feed together. Pupation in the mine. Puparium shining black Cerodontha (Poemyza) pygmaea (Meigen) [Agromyzidae]. -> A lower surface mine. Pupation normally in the ground. Puparium yellowish-brown Cerodontha (Phytagromyza) flavocingulata (Strobl) [Agromyzidae]. -> A linear mine running towards the apex of the leaf and this can widen and become almost blotch-like. Pupation internal. Puparium brownish-black Mine of Cerodontha lateralis on Poa pratensis. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Cerodontha (Poemyza) lateralis (Macquart) [Agromyzidae]. -> Deep mine, broadened irregularly. Pupation external. Puparium reddish-brown to black Agromyza cinerascens Macquart [Agromyzidae]. -> Larvae feed singly, forming an upper surface linear-blotch mine. Pupation either internal or external. Puparium reddish, brown or black, loosely glued to the leaf. Mine of Agromyza albipennis on Phalaris arundinacea. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Agromyza albipennis Meigen [Agromyzidae]. -> Larvae either singly or several in leaf, then forming large blotch, feeding first up and then down the leaf. Pupation external; puparium adhering to the leaf near end of mine, puparium black or dark red Agromyza lucida Hendel [Agromyzidae]. -> Larval leaf mine starts as a narrow channel running towards apex of leaf but later develops into a broad blotch running downwards. Frass largely diffused, giving the mine a characteristic greenish appearance. Pupation external, puparium reddish-brown Agromyza nigrella (Rondani) [Agromyzidae]. -> The young larva first feeds towards the apex of the leaf, later turning and feeding downwards. Several larvae can occur together in a single leaf. Pupation external, puparium reddish-brown Mine of Agromyza nigrociliata on Arrhenatherum elatius. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Agromyza nigrociliata Hendel [Agromyzidae]. -> Mine greenish with only single larva, initially running towards apex of leaf before turning back down and developing into a broad blotch. Puparium reddish brown Agromyza rondensis Strobl [Agromyzidae]. -> A narrow whitish linear mine, running down the leaf from the apex, with frass in two rows of separate grains. Pupation external. Puparium orange-yellow to reddish Mine of Liriomyza flaveola on Festuca gigantea. Image: Willis Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Liriomyza flaveola (Fallén) [Agromyzidae]. -> A short narrow mine, generally near apex of leaf. Pseudonapomyza atra (Meigen) [Agromyzidae].

Non-dipterous miners recorded on Dactylis in Britain Coleophora lixella Zeller, 1849 Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae   Coleophora tricolor Walsingham, 1899 Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae       Elachista albifrontella (Hübner, 1817) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae Elachista argentella (Clerck, 1759) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae Elachista atricomella Stainton, 1849 Lepidoptera: Elachistidae   Elachista freyerella (Hübner, 1825) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae   Elachista gangabella Zeller, 1850 Lepidoptera: Elachistidae Elachista luticomella Zeller, 1839 Lepidoptera: Elachistidae   Elachista maculicerusella (Bruand, 1859) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae Elachista unifasciella (Haworth, 1828) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae     Ochsenheimeria taurella (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) Lepidoptera: Ypsolophidae     Additional British non-dipterous miners recorded on Dactylis elsewhere Elachista apicipunctella Stainton, 1849 Lepidoptera: Elachistidae

Last updated 10-Sep-2008  Brian Pitkin

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