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PHALARIS. Canary-grasses. [Poaceae]

Eleven species of Phalaris are recorded in Britain. These include the native Reed Canary-grass (P. arundinacea). Nine dipterous miners, the agromyzids Agromyza albipennis, Agromyza nigrociliata, Cerodontha denticornis, Cerodontha incisa, Cerodontha lateralis, Cerodontha phalaridis, Cerodontha pygmaea, Chromatomyia nigra and Pseudonapomyza atra are recorded on Phalaris in Britain. Miners on grasses should be reared, whenever possible, to confirm their identity. Elsewhere the agromyzids Agromyza albipennis, Agromyza mobilis, Agromyza nigrociliata, Cerodontha denticornis, Cerodontha incisa, Cerodontha lateralis, Cerodontha muscina, Cerodontha phalaridis, Cerodontha pygmaea, Chromatomyia fuscula, Chromatomyia nigra, Liriomyza flaveola and Pseudonapomyza atra and the ephydrid Hydrellia griseola are recorded mining Phalaris. Two non-dipterous miners, Cosmopterix orichalcea and Elachista maculicerusella, are recorded on Phalaris in Britain (see below). Elsewhere four additional British non-dipterous miners are recorded on Phalaris (see below).

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

1> Broad mine that starts at leaf apex. Frass in large clumps. Pupation usually external. Puparium black Cerodontha (Poemyza) phalaridis Nowakowski [Agromyzidae]. -> Larvae feed singly, forming an upper surface linear-blotch mine. Pupation either internal or external. Puparium reddish, brown or black, loosely glued to the leaf. Mine of Agromyza albipennis on Phalaris arundinacea. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Agromyza albipennis Meigen [Agromyzidae]. -> The young larva first feeds towards the apex of the leaf, later turning and feeding downwards. Several larvae can occur together in a single leaf. Pupation external. Puparium reddish-brown Mine of Agromyza nigrociliata on Arrhenatherum elatius. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Agromyza nigrociliata Hendel [Agromyzidae]. -> Larva feeds mainly in the leaf sheaths. The short mines which may be formed in the leaf blade may be easily overlooked. Pupation internal. Cerodontha (Cerodontha) denticornis (Panzer) [Agromyzidae]. -> A linear mine running towards the apex of the leaf and this can widen and become almost blotch-like. Pupation internal. Puparium brownish-black Mine of Cerodontha lateralis on Poa pratensis. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Cerodontha (Poemyza) lateralis (Macquart) [Agromyzidae]. -> Normally several larvae feed together. Pupation in the mine. Puparium shining black Cerodontha (Poemyza) pygmaea (Meigen) [Agromyzidae]. -> Broad elongated mine; the form is dependent of the leaf form of the host plant. Frass green. Usually a number of larvae together in a mine. Pupation internal. Puparium shining, metallic blue-black, loosely attached by silk. Cerodontha (Poemyza) incisa (Meigen) [Agromyzidae]. -> Long, narrow, whitish mine. Pupation internal. Puparium yellowish-brown, antterior spiracles projecting through the epidermis. Mine of Chromatomyia nigra on Arrhenatherum elatius. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Chromatomyia nigra (Meigen) [Agromyzidae]. -> A short narrow mine, generally near apex of leaf. Pseudonapomyza atra (Meigen) [Agromyzidae].

Non-dipterous miners recorded on Phalaris in Britain Cosmopterix orichalcea Stainton, 1861 Lepidoptera: Cosmopterigidae       Elachista maculicerusella (Bruand, 1859) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae Additional British non-dipterous miners recorded on Phalaris elsewhere Elachista albifrontella (Hübner, 1817) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae Elachista argentella (Clerck, 1759) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae Elachista humilis Zeller, 1850 Lepidoptera: Elachistidae     Elachista pomerana Frey, 1870 Lepidoptera: Elachistidae

Last updated 05-Aug-2008  Brian Pitkin

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