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LAPSANA. Nipplewort. [Asteraceae]

Only one species of Lapsana are recorded in Britain - Nipplewort (L. communis). It is a native species. Six dipterous miners, the agromyzids Chromatomyia 'atricornis', Liriomyza eupatorii, Liriomyza strigata, Ophiomyia cunctata, Ophiomyia heringi and Phytomyza marginella, are recorded on Lapsana in Britain. The records of Liriomyza sonchi on Lapsana (Robbins, 1989 & 1991) require confirmation. Elsewhere the agromyzids Chromatomyia 'atricornis', Ophiomyia beckeri, Ophiomyia cunctata, Liriomyza eupatorii, Liriomyza strigata, Ophiomyia heringi, Ophiomyia pulicaria, Phytoliriomyza arctica and Phytomyza marginella, and the tephritid Trypeta immaculata are recorded mining Lapsana. No non-dipterous miners are recorded on Lapsana in Britain.

Nipplewort - Lapsana communis

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. Puparium black. Ophiomyia heringi Stary [Agromyzidae]. -> Leaf mine. 2. 2> Mine primarily associated with mid-rib. 3. -> Mine not primarily associated with mid-rib. 4. 3> A distinctive mine with irregular short lateral offshoots into leaf blade. Pupation external.     Mines of Liriomyza strigata on Sonchus. Image: Crown copyright - courtesy of CSL Liriomyza strigata (Meigen) [Agromyzidae] ->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]. 4> Mine linear, whitish, both upper and lower surface. Pupation internal, at the end of the mine, with the anterior spiracles projecting through the epidermis. Mine of Chromatomyia atricornis on Sonchus olearaceus. Images: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Chromatomyia 'atricornis' auctt. [Agromyzidae]. ->A linear mine commencing with a conspicuous regular spiral and then continuing a considerable distance more or less straight. Mine of Liriomyza eupatorii on Eupatorium cannabinum. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Liriomyza eupatorii (Kaltenbach) [Agromyzidae]. ->Larva mining both lower and upper surface, unusually long, linear, conspicuously broad, frequently largely on the underside of the leaf. Pupation external. Puparium black Mine of Phytomyza marginella on Lapsana communis. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Phytomyza marginella Fallén [Agromyzidae].

Last updated 30-Jul-2008  Brian Pitkin

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