HOME : Introduction : Methods : Miners : Parasitoids Host plants by Scientific name : Common name References : Web resources : Acknowledgements : Recent changes : Index : Search

MYOSOTIS. Forget-me-nots. [Boraginaceae]

Thirteeen species of Myosotis are recorded in Britain. These include the native Field Forget-me-not (M. arvensis), Changing Forget-me-not (M. discolor), Early Forget-me-not (M. ramosissima), Jersey Forget-me-not (M. sicula), Tufted Forget-me-not (M. laxa), Water Forget-me-not (M. scorpioides), Creeping Forget-me-not (M. secunda), Pale Forget-me-not (M. stolonifera), Alpine Forget-me-not (M. alpestris) and Wood Forget-me-not (M. sylvatica). Five dipterous miners, the agromyzids Agromyza abiens, Agromyza lithospermi, Agromyza myosotidis, Agromyza pseudorufipes and Phytomyza myosotica, are recorded on Myosotis in Britain. Elsewhere the agromyzids Agromyza abiens, Agromyza myosotidis, Agromyza pseudorufipes and Phytomyza myosotica and the sciarid Phytosciara halterata are recorded mining Myosotis. One non-dipterous miner, Orthochaetes setiger, is recorded on Myosotis in Britain. Elsewhere one British non-dipterous miner is recorded on Myosotis (see below).

Water Forget-me-not - Myosotis scorpioides

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

1> A narrow linear leaf mine, which developes into a large blotch. Several larvae frequently feed together and the resulting mine can entirely fill the leaf. Puparium reddish brown Mine of Agromyza abiens on Symphytum officinale. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Agromyza abiens Zetterstedt [Agromyzidae]. ->Larvae forming large blotch. Agromyza lithospermi Spencer [Agromyzidae]. ->Larva forming large, irregular blotch with a short linear section in the first instar which is frequently entirely enveloped in the fully developed mine and may then be no longer visible. Puparium reddish-brown Agromyza myosotidis Kaltenbach [Agromyzidae]. ->A large blotch, frequently entering a second leaf to complete development. Agromyza pseudorufipes Nowakowski [Agromyzidae]. ->Mine initially linear, later developing into a whitish blotch. Pupation in mine on lower surface. Puparium yellowish orange Phytomyza myosotica Nowakowski [Agromyzidae].

Non-dipterous miners recorded on Myosotis in Britain Orthochaetes setiger (Beck, 1817) Coleoptera: Curculionidae Additional non-dipterous miners recorded on Myosotis elsewhere Coleophora pennella (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae

Last updated 09-Sep-2008  Brian Pitkin

.