Hypochaeris [Asteraceae]

HYPOCHAERIS. Cat's-ears. [Asteraceae]

Four species of Hypochaeris are recorded in Britain. These include the native Smooth Cat's-ear (H. glabra), Spotted Cat's-ear (H. maculata) and Cat's-ear (H. radicata).

Smooth Cat's-ear (H. glabra) is protected in Northern Ireland under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order, 1985.

Four Diptera miners, the agromyzids Ophiomyia cunctata, Ophiomyia heringi, Ophiomyia pulicaria and Phytomyza cecidonomia are recorded on Hypochaeris in Britain.

The drosophilid Scaptomyza flava is recorded on Hypochaeris by Chandler, 1978, but it is not clear whether the host association is British or Foreign.

Cat's-ear
Hypochaeris radicata

Elsewhere the agromyzids Chromatomyia 'atricornis', Liriomyza pusilla, Liriomyza strigata, Ophiomyia beckeri, Ophiomyia cunctata, Phytomyza cecidonomia and Phytomyza marginella, the drosophilid Scaptomyza flava, and the tephritid Trypeta immaculata are recorded mining Hypochaeris.

No non-Diptera miners are recorded on Hypochaeris in Britain.

Elsewhere one British non-Diptera miner is recorded on Hypochaeris (see below).

The tortricid Cnephasia conspersana is recorded as a seed / shoot feeder on Hypochaeris in Britain.

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

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 > Stem miner: An external stem mine with frass in two rows of disconnected strips. Pupation in stem at end of mine.

On Campanula, Jasione, Phyteuma [Campanulaceae], Crepis, Hypochaeris and Lapsana [Asteraceae] in Britain and additional genera of both families elsewhere. Uncommon in Britain - recorded in London, Warwick and Cambridge. Uncommon but Widespread in continental Europe.

Ophiomyia heringi Stary, 1930 [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

1b > Leaf mine.

2a> Leaf miner: A whitish blotch mine along mid-rib, with offshoots into leaf blade. Pupation takes place at the base of the mid-rib. Puparium yellowish white

Mine of Ophiomyia cunctata on Taraxacum officinale. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Bladmineerders van Europa)

Mine of Ophiomyia cunctata on Taraxacum officinale
Image: Willem Ellis (Bladmineerders van Europa)

On Crepis, Hypochaeris, Lapsana, Mycelis, Picris, Sonchus, Taraxacum and possibly Bellis in Britain and additional genera of Asteraceae elsewhere. Widespread in Britain and throughout much of Europe.

Ophiomyia cunctata (Hendel, 1920) [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

2b > Leaf miner: A whitish blotch-mine along the mid-rib, with lateral offshoots into the leaf blade. Pupation internal. Puparium pale, whitish-yellow

Mine of Ophiomyia pulicaria on Taraxacum officinale. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Bladmineerders van Europa)

Mine of Ophiomyia pulicaria on Taraxacum officinale
Image: Willem Ellis (Bladmineerders van Europa)

On Crepis, Hieracium, Hypochaeris, Leontodon, Picris, Pilosella, Sonchus and Taraxacum in Britain and additional genera of Asteraceae elsewhere. Widespread and common in Britain and continental Europe. Range extending east to Siberia. Also recorded from Canada.

Ophiomyia pulicaria (Meigen, 1830) [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

2c > Leaf miner: Larva feeding in the mid-rib, which can swell basally, gall-like, and is frequently accompanied by reddish discolouration. Mines can be found at the end of April in the basal rosette of leaves before the appearance of the flowering stem.

On Hypochaeris in Britain and elsewhere. Widespread in Britain. Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland. Widespread in continental Europe.

Phytomyza cecidonomia Hering, 1937 [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

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

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).

1 > Leaf miner: The mine begins in the midrib, especially in a lower leaf, extending into the leaf disc, branching irregularly or pinnately, may also locally be blotch like. The mine is brown and very transparent. Sides very irregularly eaten out. Frass loosely dispersed or in a loose central line, buy may also be pressed against the sides of the corridor. The larva may also leave the mine and restart elsewhere (Bladmineerders van Europa). Larva without abdominal legs.

Recorded on numerous genera and species in several plant families, but not yet on Hypochaeris, in Britain. Recorded on numerous genera and species in several plant families, including Hypochaeris, in elsewhere. Widespread in England and continental Europe. Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland.

Orthochaetes setiger (Beck 1817) [Coleoptera: Curculionidae]


	Last updated 05-Feb-2012 Brian Pitkin