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HOLCUS. Yorkshire-fog and Creeping Soft-grass. [Poaceae]

Four species of Holcus are recorded in Britain. These include the native Creeping Soft-grass (H. mollis) and Yorkshire-fog (H. lanatus). Thirteen dipterous miners, the agromyzids Agromyza albipennis, Agromyza mobilis, Agromyza nigrella, Agromyza nigripes, Cerodontha denticornis, Cerodontha flavocingulata, Cerodontha pygmaea, Chromatomyia fuscula, Chromatomyia milii, Chromatomyia nigra, Liriomyza flaveola, Liriomyza phryne and Pseudonapomyza atra, are recorded on Holcus in Britain. Miners on grasses should be reared, whenever possible, to confirm their identity. Three of these, Agromyza mobilis, Agromyza nigrella, Agromyza nigrella, Cerodontha denticornis, Cerodontha incisa,, Cerodontha muscina, Cerodontha pygmaea, Chromatomyia milii and Chromatomyia nigra are also recorded on Phleum in Britain. Records of the agromyzid Chromatomyia fuscula on Holcus (Robbins, 1989 & 1991) are rejected as this species is not British. Elsewhere the agromyzids Agromyza mobilis, Agromyza nigrella, Cerodontha incisa, Cerodontha flavocingulata, Cerodontha muscina, Chromatomyia milii, Chromatomyia nigra, Liriomyza flaveola, Metopomyza flavonotata and Pseudonapomyza atra, and the ephydrid Hydrellia griseola are recorded mining Holcus. Seven non-dipterous miners are recorded on Holcus in Britain (see below). Elsewhere four additional British non-dipterous miners are recorded on Holcus (see below).

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

#> Details of mine unknown. Pupation external. Liriomyza phryne Hendel [Agromyzidae]. 1> Long upper surface mine, often with several larvae feeding together side by side. Agromyza mobilis Meigen [Agromyzidae]. -> 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]. -> 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]. -> 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]. -> Narrow whitish mine, with frass in distinct black lumps. Pupation internal Chromatomyia fuscula (Zetterstedt) [Agromyzidae]. -> A substantial linear mine. Pupation internal. Puparium posterior spiracles projecting through the epidermis. Mine of Chromatomyia milii on Holcus lanatus. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Chromatomyia milii (Kaltenbach) [Agromyzidae]. -> A narrow whitish linear mine, running down the leaf from the apex, with frass in two rows of separate grains. Pupation external. Puparium orange-yellow to reddish Mine of Liriomyza flaveola on Festuca gigantea. Image: Willis Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Liriomyza flaveola (Fallén) [Agromyzidae]. -> A short narrow mine, generally near apex of leaf. Pseudonapomyza atra (Meigen) [Agromyzidae].

Non-dipterous miners recorded on Holcus in Britain Coleophora lixella Zeller, 1849 Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae   Coleophora tricolor Walsingham, 1899 Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae       Elachista albifrontella (Hübner, 1817) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae Elachista canapennella (Hübner, 1813) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae     Elachista gangabella Zeller, 1850 Lepidoptera: Elachistidae Elachista humilis Zeller, 1850 Lepidoptera: Elachistidae     Elachista rufocinerea (Haworth, 1828) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae   Additional British non-dipterous miners recorded on Holcus elsewhere Elachista apicipunctella Stainton, 1849 Lepidoptera: Elachistidae   Elachista argentella (Clerck, 1759) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae Elachista maculicerusella (Bruand, 1859) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae Elachista unifasciella (Haworth, 1828) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae

Last updated 14-Oct-2008  Brian Pitkin

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