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PHRAGMITES. Common Reed. [Poaceae]

Only one species of Phragmites, the Common Reed (P. australis), is recorded in Britain. It is a native species. Seven dipterous miners, the agromyzids Agromyza graminicola, Agromyza hendeli, Agromyza phragmitidis, Cerodontha atra, Cerodontha incisa, Cerodontha phragmitidis and Pseudonapomyza atra are recorded on Phragmites in Britain. Miners on grasses should be reared, whenever possible, to confirm their identity. Elsewhere the agromyzids Agromyza graminicola, Agromyza hendeli, Agromyza phragmitidis, Cerodontha incisa, Cerodontha phragmitidis and Cerodontha pygmaea, the dolichopodids Thrypticus smaragdinus and Thrypticus bellus, and the ephydrid Hydrellia griseola are recorded mining Phragmites. Five non-dipterous miners are recorded on Phragmites in Britain (see below). Elsewhere one additional British non-dipterous miner is recorded on Phragmites (see below).

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

1> Normally 3 or 4 eggs laid together.The larvae form a large communal mine, feeding first up and then down the leaf. Pupation external. Puparium black or brown, frequently adhering to the leaf near the end of the mine. Agromyza hendeli Griffiths [Agromyzidae] -> Several eggs are normally laid together side by side at the tip of the leaf, the young larvae feeding first towards the apex of the leaf and then forming a large communal blotch running doen the leaf. Pupation normally external. Puparium varies in colour from black to almost yellow, frequently adhering to the leaf. Mine of Agromyza phragmitidis on Phragmites australis. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Agromyza phragmitidis Hendel [Agromyzidae] -> A linear mine with two rows of frass Agromyza graminicola Hendel [Agromyzidae] -> A large linear-blotch mine in the leaf blade. Pupation normally in the mine. Puparium metallic black Mine of Cerodontha phragmitidis. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Cerodontha (Poemyza) phragmitidis Nowakowski [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 Cerodontha (Poemyza) incisa (Meigen) [Agromyzidae] -> Lower-surface corridor in the top half the leaf blade; the mine changes direction at least two times. One to three larvae in a mine. Frass in rather regular granules Cerodontha (Poemyza) atra (Meigen) [Agromyzidae] -> A short narrow mine, generally near apex of leaf. Larva with each segment bearing a row of characteristic papilli which are retained in the puparium. Pseudonapomyza atra (Meigen) [Agromyzidae]

Non-dipterous miners recorded on Phragmites in Britain Cosmopterix lienigiella Zeller, 1846 Lepidoptera: Cosmopterigidae     Cosmopterix orichalcea Stainton, 1861 Lepidoptera: Cosmopterigidae       Cosmopterix scribaiella Zeller, 1850 Lepidoptera: Cosmopterigidae     Donacaula forficella (Thunberg, 1794) Lepidoptera: Crambidae   Elachista maculicerusella (Bruand, 1859) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae Additional British non-dipterous miners recorded on Phragmites elsewhere Monochroa arundinetella (Stainton, 1858) Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae

Last updated 11-Sep-2008  Brian Pitkin

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