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PETASITES. Butterburs & Winter Heliotrope. [Asteraceae]
Five species of Petasites are recorded in Britain. These included the native Butterbur (P. hybridus) and the introduced Winter Aconite (P. fragrans). Four dipterous miners, the agromyzid Phytomyza tussilaginis and the tephritids Acidia cognata, Stemonocera cornuta and Trypeta zoe and are recorded on Petasites in Britain. The agromyzid Liriomyza huidobrensis, a polyphagous pest species of ornamental and vegetable crops occasionally intercepted at UK points of entry, is recorded on Petasites has been found under glass in England and Wales. All populations have been and continue to be eradicated.	Butterbur - Petasites hybridus
Elsewhere the agromyzids Liriomyza huidobrensis, Phytomyza buhriella and Phytomyza tussilaginis, the anthomyiid Pegomya depressiventris, and the tephritids Acidia cognata, Stemonocera cornuta and Trypeta zoe are recorded mining Petasites. One non-dipterous leaf-miner is recorded on Petasites in Britain (see below).

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

#> Details of mine unknown. Pegomya depressiventris (Zetterstedt) [Anthomyiidae]. 1> Blotch mine. Pupation external. Puparium yellow Mine of Stemonocera cornuta on Eupatorium cannabinum. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Stemonocera cornuta (Scopoli) [Tephritidae]. -> An upper surface corridor mine, becoming strongly broadened and blotch-like. The mine can occupy a considerable part of a small leaf. Mines frequently merge, and then accommodate several larvae. Pupation external, in soil. Puparium yellow Mine of Acidia cognata on Tussilago farfara. Images: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Acidia cognata (Wiedemann) [Tephritidae]. ->Corridor mine following the mid-rib, with lateral offshoots. Puparium yellow Mine of Trypeta zoe on Artemisia vulgaris. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Trypeta zoe Meigen [Tephritidae]. ->A long linear greenish-white mine which can conspicuously widen at end, with frass in separate grains. Puparium black Mines of Phytomyza tussilaginis on Petasites hybridus. Images: Brian Pitkin Phytomyza tussilaginis Hendel [Agromyzidae].

Non-dipterous miners recorded on Petasites in Britain Platyptilia gonodactyla (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae

Last updated 05-Aug-2008  Brian Pitkin

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