Glechoma [Lamiaceae]

GLECHOMA. Ground-ivy. [Lamiaceae]

Ground-ivy (G. hederacea) is the only species of Glechoma recorded in Britain. It is a native species.

Five Diptera miners, the agromyzids Agromyza flavipennis, Amauromyza flavifrons, Amauromyza labiatarum, Amauromyza lamii, and Phytomyza glechomae, are recorded on Glechoma in Britain. The British record of Amauromyza lamii, however, is considered unlikely to be correct (Henshaw, 1998).

Elsewhere the polyphagous agromyzids Amauromyza labiatarum, Amauromyza lamii, Amauromyza morionella, Liriomyza huidobrensis, Liriomyza strigata and Phytomyza glechomae are recorded mining Glechoma.

Elsewhere the agromyzid Napomyza nigriceps feeds in the stems of Glechoma.

Two non-Diptera miners are recorded on Glechoma in Britain (see below).

Ground-ivy
Glechoma hederacea

A key to the European miners, based on characteristics of the mines, immature stages and where relevant the larval cases, recorded on Glechoma is provided in Bladmineerders van Europa. This includes Amauromyza labiatarum, Amauromyza lamii, Amauromyza morionella, Liriomyza strigata, Phytomyza glechomae, Apteropeda orbiculata, Coleophora albitarsella, Coleophora ochripennella and Trachys scrobiculatus but not Agromyza flavipennis.

Key for the identification of the mines of British Diptera recorded on
Glechoma

Note: Diptera larvae may live in a corridor mine, a corridor-blotch mine, or a blotch mine, but never in a case, a rolled or folded leaf, a tentiform mine or sandwiched between two more or less circular leaf sections in later instars. Pupation never in a cocoon. All mining Diptera larvae are leg-less maggots without a head capsule (see examples). They never have thoracic or abdominal legs. They do not have chewing mouthparts, although they do have a characteristic cephalo-pharyngeal skeleton (see examples), usually visible internally through the body wall. The larvae lie on their sides within the mine and use their pick-like mouthparts to feed on plant tissue. In some corridor miners frass may lie in two rows on alternate sides of the mine. In order to vacate the mine the fully grown larva cuts an exit slit, which is usually semi-circular (see Liriomyza huidobrensis video). The pupa is formed within the hardened last larval skin or puparium and as a result sheaths enclosing head appendages, wings and legs are not visible externally (see examples).

1a > Leaf-miner: A linear-blotch mine, first instar mine is linear, later developing into a conspicuous white blotch. Frass greenish diffused.

On numerous genera of Lamiaceae, including Glechoma, in Britain and elsewhere. Widespread and locally common in south of England. Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland and widespread and frequently common in continental Europe.

Amauromyza labiatarum (Hendel, 1920) [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

1b > Leaf-miner: Initially a long, slim corridor, the frass alternating on either the side of the corridor. After moulting, the larva broadens the mine and the frass is less regular. Pupation external

Mine of Amauromyza lamii on Stachys sylvatica. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Bladmineerders van Europa)

Mine of Amauromyza lamii on Stachys sylvatica
Image: Willem Ellis (Bladmineerders van Europa)

Hosts in Britain unknown. The record on Glechoma from Warwick (Kingsbury Wood) (Robbins, 1991: 103) is considered unlikely to be correct (Henshaw in Chandler, 1998). On Ajuga, Ballota, Galeopsis, Glechoma, Lamiastrum, Lamium, Leonurus, Marrubium, Mellitis, Mentha, Scutellaria and Stachys elsewhere. Widespread in continental Europe.

Amauromyza lamii (Kaltenbach, 1858) [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

1c > Leaf-miner: Blotch-mine invariably adjoining margin of leaf. Puparium reddish brown or reddish-orange

On Glechoma and Lamium in Britain and Lamium and Lamiastrum elsewhere. Uncommon in Britain - Bucks, Surrey, Warwick, Cambridge and Middlesex. Widespread in continental Europe.

Agromyza flavipennis Hendel, 1920 [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

1d > Leaf-miner: A distinctive mine with a short linear section at the beginning, then winding and forming a secondary blotch, and finally a short straighter end section. Pupation internal or more normally the brown puparium falls to the ground.

On Glechoma in Britain and elsewhere. Widespread in Britain. Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland and Widespread in western and central Europe.

Phytomyza glechomae Kaltenbach, 1862 [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

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

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: 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 Calamintha elsewhere. Throughout England and Wales and a few places in Scotland. Widespread in continental Europe.

Coleophora albitarsella Zeller, 1849 [Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae]

1b > Leaf-miner, but not a case-bearer

2a > 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 Glechoma, in Britain. Recorded on numerous genera and species in several plant families, including Glechoma, elsewhere. Widespread in Britain and continental Europe.

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

2b > Leaf-miner: Upper-surface, transparent blotch that begins at the leaf margin, generally at the underside of the leaf. Oviposition site covered by a shining brown drop of hardened secretion. Frass in grains or thread fragments (Bladmineerders van Europa). Larva without abdominal legs.

Recorded on Glechoma in Britain and ? Clinopodium, Glechoma, ? Marrubium, Mentha, ? Nepeta and ? Stachys elsewhere. Widespread in Britain and continental Europe.

Trachys scrobiculatus Kiesenwetter, 1857 [Coleoptera: Buprestidae]


	Last updated 05-Feb-2012 Brian Pitkin