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

GYPSOPHILA. Baby's-breath and Gypsophila. [Caryophyllaceae]

Eight species of Gypsophila are recorded in Britain. All are introduced and include Annual Baby's-breath (G. elegans) and Baby's-breath (G. paniculata). Only one dipterous miner, the anthomyiid Delia echinata, is recorded on Gypsophila in Britain. The agromyzids Liriomyza huidobrensis, Liriomyza sativa and Liriomyza trifolii, pest species of ornamental and vegetable crops occasionally intercepted at UK points of entry, are recorded on Gypsophila. Liriomyza huidobrensis and Liriomyza trifolii have been found under glass in England and Wales. All populations have been and continue to be eradicated. Elsewhere the agromyzids Amauromyza flavifrons, Liriomyza bryoniae, Liriomyza huidobrensis, Liriomyza sativa and Liriomyza trifolii; the anthomyiid Delia echinata, and the drosophilid Scaptomyza graminum are recorded mining Gypsophila. No non-dipterous miners are recorded on Gypsophila in Britain.

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

1> Leaf and stem mine. Apart from mining leaves the stems are excavated. Oviposition takes place on the tips of shoots. The larva at first mines strip-like full depth corridors in the apical leaves, going then into the stem, which it hollows out, so that it becomes translucent. It then searches out leaves further down in which initially it mines depositing frass in strips, but then in blotches. The corridors often lie in one half of the leaf and can be branched. In the blotches the frass is irregularly scattered. Pupation is in the hollow stem or in the ground. Delia echinata (Séguy) [Anthomyiidae]

Last updated 27-Feb-2008  Brian Pitkin

.