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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MARRUBIUM. White Horehound. [Lamiaceae]

Three species of Marrubium are recorded in Britain. These include the native White Horehound (M. vulgare).

Three dipterous miners, the agromyzids Amauromyza morionella, Amuromyza labiatarum and Amauromyza lamii are recorded on Marrubium in Britain.

Elsewhere the agromyzids Amauromyza labiatarum, Amauromyza lamii and Amauromyza morionella are recorded mining Marrubium.

One non-dipterous miner is recorded on Marrubium in Britain (see below).


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


1> An initially linear mine, which at second instar develops into a large whitish blotch with conspicuous black frass. The early linear mine is frequently entirely enveloped by the blotch but is detectable by the alternate irregular strips of frass. Pupation external. Puparium reddish-brown. Distinguishable from Amauromyza lamii only by the male genitalia.

Mine of Amauromyza morionella on Ballota nigra. Image: Willem Ellis (Source Ellis (Nederlandse bladmineerders)
Mine of Amauromyza morionella on Ballota nigra.
Image: Willem Ellis (Source Ellis (Nederlandse bladmineerders)

Amauromyza (Amauromyza) morionella (Zetterstedt)
[Agromyzidae].

-> A linear-blotch mine, first instar mine is linear, later developing into a conspicuous white blotch. Frass greenish diffused.

Mine of Amauromyza labiatarum. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders)
Mine of Amauromyza labiatarum. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders)
Rubus fruticosus
Filipendula ulmaria
Mines of Amauromyza labiatarum.
Images: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders)

Amauromyza (Trilobomyza) labiatarum (Hendel) [Agromyzidae].

-> Initially a long, slim corridor, the frass alternating on either the side of the corridor. After moulting, the larva broadens the mine and the frass is less regular. Pupation external

Mine of Amauromyza lamii on Stachys sylvatica. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders)
Mine of Amauromyza lamii on Stachys sylvatica. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders)

Amauromyza lamii (Kaltenbach, 1858) [Agromyzidae].

Non-dipterous miners recorded on Marrabium in Britain

Coleophora lineolea (Haworth, 1828) Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae British Leafminers UKMoths Nederlandse bladmineerders Fauna Europaea


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Last updated 05-Aug-2008  Brian Pitkin