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FESTUCA. Fescues. [Poaceae]

Twenty-one species of Festuca are recorded in Britain. Fourteen of these are native and include Tall Fescue (F. arundinacea). Five dipterous miners, the agromyzids Agromyza nigrella, Cerodontha denticornis, Cerodontha flavocingulata, Cerodontha pygmaea and Chromatomyia nigra, are recorded on Festuca in Britain. Miners on grasses should be reared, whenever possible, to confirm their identity. Elsewhere the agromyzids Agromyza albipennis, Agromyza nigrella, Cerodontha denticornis, Cerodontha flavocingulata, Cerodontha incisa, Cerodontha muscina, Cerodontha pygmaea and Chromatomyia nigra and the ephydrid Hydrellia griseola are recorded mining Festuca. Six non-dipterous miners are recorded on Festuca in Britain (see below). Elsewhere ten additional British non-dipterous miners are recorded on Festuca (see below).

Sheep's Fescue - Festuca aff. ovina.

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

1> 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]. -> Larva feeds mainly in the leaf sheaths. The short mines which may be formed in the leaf blade may be easily overlooked. Pupation internal. Cerodontha (Cerodontha) denticornis (Panzer) [Agromyzidae]. -> A lower surface mine. Pupation normally in the ground. Puparium yellowish-brown Cerodontha (Phytagromyza) flavocingulata (Strobl) [Agromyzidae]. -> Normally several larvae feed together. Pupation in the mine. Puparium shining black Cerodontha (Poemyza) pygmaea (Meigen) [Agromyzidae]. -> Long, narrow, whitish mine. 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].

Non-dipterous miners recorded on Festuca in Britain Cosmopterix orichalcea Stainton, 1861 Lepidoptera: Cosmopterigidae     Elachista bisulcella (Duponchel, 1843) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae     Elachista collitella (Duponchel, 1843) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae       Elachista humilis Zeller, 1850 Lepidoptera: Elachistidae     Elachista rufocinerea (Haworth, 1828) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae   Elachista triatomea (Haworth, 1828) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae     Additional British non-dipterous miners recorded on Festuca elsewhere Elachista adscitella Stainton, 1851 Lepidoptera: Elachistidae Elachista albifrontella (Hübner, 1817) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae Elachista apicipunctella Stainton, 1849 Lepidoptera: Elachistidae   Elachista argentella (Clerck, 1759) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae Elachista bedellella (Sircom, 1848) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae Elachista freyerella (Hübner, 1825) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae   Elachista luticomella Zeller, 1839 Lepidoptera: Elachistidae   Elachista maculicerusella (Bruand, 1859) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae Elachista stabilella Stainton, 1858 Lepidoptera: Elachistidae   Elachista utonella Frey, 1856 Lepidoptera: Elachistidae

Last updated 25-Aug-2008  Brian Pitkin

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