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MINUARTIA. Sandworts. [Caryophyllaceae]

Seven species of Minuartia are recorded in Britain. These include the native Fine-leaved Sandwort (M. hibrida), Recurved Sandwort (M. recurva), Mountain Sandwort (M. rubella), Cyphel (M. sedoides), Teesdale Sandwort (M. stricta), Spring Sandwort (M. verna). The BSBI provide a downloadable plant crib for Minuartia and Sagina.

Two British miners are recorded on Minuartia.

A key to the European miners recorded on Minuartia is provided in Bladmineerders van Europa.

Key for the identification of the known mines of British
insects (Diptera and non-Diptera) recorded on Minuartia

1a > Leaf-miner: Initially mining the leaves, but later on spun flowers and seeds.

On Cerastium and Minuartia in Britain and Arenaria, Cerastium, Minuartia, Moehringia and Stellaria elsewhere.

Caryocolum alsinella (Zeller, 1868) [Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae].

1b > Leaf- and stem-miner: Mine predominantly in the leaves. The beginning of the mine is a full depth corridor lying on the leaf margin, with or without large, black frass grains. The larva goes through the stem, mines leaf after leaf, hollowing these out (Hering, 1957). The larva mines a number of leaves, and bores in the stem segments inbetween. Frass, as far as visible, in large black lumps. Pupation outside the mine.

On ? Honkenya, but not yet on Minuartia, in Britain and Honkenya and Minuartia elsewhere. Recorded in Britain and continental Europe including Germany (Teschner, 1999), Denmark, Norwegian mainland, Poland and Russia - North.

Delia quadripila (Stein, 1916) [Diptera: Anthomyiidae].