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GLYCERIA. Sweetgrasses. [Poaceae]

Six species of Glyceria are recorded in Britain. Thes include the native Small Sweet-grass (G. declinata), Floating Sweet-grass (G. fluitans), Reed Sweet-grass (G. maxima) and Plicate Sweet-grass (Glyceria notata). Six dipterous miners, the agromyzids Agromyza albipennis, Agromyza alunulata, Agromyza lucida, Agromyza nigrella and Agromyza nigripes and the ephdrid Hydrellia thoracica are recorded on Glyceria in Britain. Miners on grasses should be reared, whenever possible, to confirm their identity. Elsewhere the agromyzids Agromyza albipennis, Agromyza lucida, Agromyza nigrella, Agromyza nigripes, Cerodontha pygmaea and Chromatomyia nigra, the chironomid Cricotopus trifasciatus, and the ephydrids Hydrellia griseola and Hydrellia thoracica are recorded mining Glyceria. Two non-dipterous miners are recorded on Glyceria in Britain (see below). Elsewhere three additional British non-dipterous miners are recorded on Glyceria (see below).

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

#> Flat green corridors in the leaves. Hydrellia thoracica Haliday [Ephydridae]. 1> 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]. -> A blotch mine, larvae feeding first towards apex of leaf and then downwards towards base. Pupation external. Puparium dimorphic, summer form of normal shape, red and thin shelled; winter form black, thick shelled and strongly arched Agromyza alunulata (Hendel) [Agromyzidae]. -> Larvae either singly or several in leaf, then forming large blotch, feeding first up and then down the leaf. Pupation external. Puparium black or dark red, adhering to the leaf near end of mine, 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]. -> Larvae feeding singly, forming a long, widening mine on the upper surface of the leaf, which is generally limited to one side of the leaf. Pupation external. Puparium varying from black to reddish, glued to the leaf near the end of the mine Agromyza nigripes Meigen [Agromyzidae].

Non-dipterous miners recorded on Glyceria in Britain Elachista poae Stainton, 1855 Lepidoptera: Elachistidae   Orthotelia sparganella (Thunberg, 1788) Lepidoptera: Glyphipterigidae   Additional British non-dipterous miners recorded on Glyceria elsewhere Donacaula forficella (Thunberg, 1794) Lepidoptera: Crambidae Elachista bisulcella (Duponchel, 1843) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae     Elachista pomerana Frey, 1870 Lepidoptera: Elachistidae

Last updated 20-Aug-2008  Brian Pitkin

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