The leaf and stem  mines of British flies and other insects by Brian Pitkin, Willem Ellis, Colin Plant and Rob Edmunds


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LEONTODON. Hawkbits. [Asteraceae]


Five of species of Leontodon are recorded in Britain. These include the native Autumn Hawkbit (L. autumnalis), Rough Hawkbit (L. hispidus) and Lesser Hawkbit (L. saxatilis). Leontodon autumnalis is treated as Scorzoneroides autumnalis by Stace (2010).

Six Diptera miners, the agromyzids Chromatomyia farfarella, Chromatomyia syngenesiae, Liriomyza taraxaci, Ophiomyia beckeri, Ophiomyia pinguis and Ophiomyia pulicaria are recorded on Leontodon in Britain.

Elsewhere the agromyzids Chromatomyia 'atricornis', Chromatomyia farfarella, Chromatomyia fuscula, Ophiomyia beckeri, Ophiomyia heringi, Liriomyza strigata, Liriomyza taraxaci, Ophiomyia heringi, Ophiomyia beckeri, Ophiomyia pulicaria and Phytomyza marginella and the tephritid Trypeta immaculata are recorded mining Leontodon.

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

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

Autumn Hawkbit  - Leontodon autumnalis Image:  Brian Pitkin
Autumn Hawkbit
Leontodon autumnalis.




Key for the identification of the known Diptera mines on
Leontodon
in Great Britain and Ireland




1> Mine primarily associated with mid-rib.

2.

-> Mine not primarily associated with mid-rib.

3.

2> 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)
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 Europe. Range extending east to Siberia. Also recorded from Canada.

Ophiomyia pulicaria (Meigen) [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

-> A white mine along mid-rib, with offshoots into leaf blade. Pupation internal at base of mid-rib. Puparium whitish

Mine of Ophiomyia beckeri on Lapsana communis. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders)
Mine of Ophiomyia beckeri on Lapsana communis
Image: Willem Ellis (Bladmineerders van Europa)

On Cicerbita, Leontodon, Sonchus and Taraxacum in Britain and numerous other genera of Asteraceae elsewhere. Widespread in south, but not common, in Britain. Widespread in Europe.

Ophiomyia beckeri (Hendel) [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

3> A narrow, whitish linear mine. Pupation internal. Puparium white

On Leontodon autumnalis and Taraxacum officinale in Britain and elsewhere. Britain and the Republic of Ireland. Widespread in Europe.

Chromatomyia farfarella (Hendel) [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

-> Mine linear, whitish, both upper and lower surface. Pupation internal, at the end of the mine. Puparium white or more rarely darker, brownish, with the anterior spiracles projecting through the epidermis

On 27 plant genera in the family Asteraceae in Britain and many more elsewhere. Common throughout Britain. Widespread and common throughout Europe and introduced to U.S.A., Australia and New Zealand.

Chromatomyia syngenesiae (Hardy) [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

-> A small somewhat irregular, elongate blotch.

Mine of Liriomyza taraxaci on Taraxacum officinale. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders)
Mine of Liriomyza taraxaci on Taraxacum officinale
Image: Willem Ellis (Bladmineerders van Europa)

On Leontodon and Taraxacum in Britain and Aposeris, Arnoseris, Leontodon and Taraxacum elsewhere, Widespread in Britain and Europe.

Liriomyza taraxaci Hering [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

-> Egg is laid beneath the epidermis on the upper leaf surface. Larva mine in basal leaves. Pupation internal. Puparium pale whitish-yellow

On Cichorium and Leontodon in Britain and in addition Lactuca and Taraxacum elsewhere. Uncommon, but widespread in Britain. Widespread in Europe, range extending eastwards to Tadzhik S.S.R and Uzbek S.S.R.

Ophiomyia pinguis (Fallén) [Diptera: Agromyzidae].


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Last updated 09-Aug-2010  Brian Pitkin

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