HOME : Introduction : Methods : Miners : Parasitoids Host plants by Scientific name : Common name References : Web resources : Acknowledgements : Recent changes : Index : Search

GNAPHALIUM. Cudweeds. [Asteraceae]

Eleven species of Gnaphalium are recorded in Britain. These include the native Jersey Cudweed (G. luteoalbum), Marsh Cudweed (G. uliginosum), Highland Cudweed (G. norvegicum), Dwarf Cudweed (G. supinum) and Heath Cudweed (G. sylvaticum). Jersey Cudweed (G. luteoalbum) is protected under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. Only one dipterous miner, the agromyzid Ophiomyia gnaphalii, is recorded on Gnaphalium in Britain. The agromyzids Liriomyza sativae and Liriomyza trifolii, polyphagous pest species of ornamental and vegetable crops occasionally intercepted at UK points of entry, are recorded on Gnaphalium. Liriomyza trifolii has been found under glass in England and Wales. All populations have been and continue to be eradicated. Elsewhere the agromyzids Calycomyza artemisiae, Chromatomyia horticola, Liriomyza sativae, Liriomyza strigata, Liriomyza trifolii and Ophiomyia gnaphalii are recorded mining Gnaphalium. No non-dipterous miners are recorded on Gnaphalium in Britain.

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

1> An external stem mine on Gnaphalium sylvaticum (Spencer, 1972) or leaf mine in basal leaves of Antennaria dioica (Bland, 1999). In the latter a single larva moves from leaf to leaf, each leaf with 2-4 broad diverging tracks extending rarely more than two-thirds of the length of the leaf from the petiole into the leaf lamina; frass concentrated in the petiolar part of the mine. Pupation in stem mine of Gnaphalium or among basal leaves of Antennaria. Ophiomyia gnaphalii Hering [Agromyzidae].

Last updated 22-Aug-2007  Brian Pitkin

.