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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. Five dipterous miners, the agromyzids Ophiomyia cunctata, Ophiomyia heringi, Ophiomyia pulicaria and Phytomyza cecidonomia and the drosophilid Scaptomyza flava, are recorded on Hypochaeris in Britain. 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. One non-dipterous miner, is recorded on Hypochaeris in Britain (see below).

Cat's-ear - Hypochaeris radicata.

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

1> Stem mine. An external stem mine with frass in two rows of disconnected strips. Pupation in stem at end of mine. Ophiomyia heringi Stary [Agromyzidae]. ->Leaf mine. 2. 2> Corridor-blotch mine, normally dorsal; usually whitish; in small leaves it lies characteristicallly in the centre of the leaf often touching the petiole; in larger leaves it lies to one side of the mid-rib. Frass deposited in green clumps near the leaf margin. Pupation usually external, sometimes in a separate pupation mine. Mine of Scaptomyza flava on Brassica rapa. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Scaptomyza flava (Fallén) [Drosophilidae]. ->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: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Ophiomyia cunctata (Hendel) [Agromyzidae]. ->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: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Ophiomyia pulicaria (Meigen) [Agromyzidae]. ->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. Phytomyza cecidonomia Hering [Agromyzidae].

Non-dipterous miners recorded on Hypochaeris in Britain Cnephasia conspersana Douglas, 1846 Lepidoptera: Tortricidae

Last updated 30-Jul-2008  Brian Pitkin

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