The leaf and stem  mines of British flies and other insects by Brian Pitkin, Willem Ellis, Colin Plant and Rob Edmunds


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PIMPINELLA. Saxifrages. [Apiaceae]


Five species of Pimpinella are recorded in Britain. These include the native Greater Burnet-saxifrage (P. major) and Burnet-saxifrage (P. saxifraga).

Five dipterous miners, the agromyzids Phytomyza adjuncta, Phytomyza melana, Phytomyza pauliloewi and Phytomyza pimpinellae and the tephritid Euleia heraclei, are recorded on Pimpinella in Britain.

Elsewhere the agromyzids Phytomyza adjuncta, Phytomyza heracleana, Phytomyza melana and Phytomyza pimpinellae and the tephritids Cryptaciura rotundiventris and Euleia heraclei are recorded mining Pimpinella.

The agromyzid Melanagromyza sativae bores the stems of Pimpinella and other Apiaceae in Britain and elsewhere.

One non-dipterous leaf-miner is recorded on Pimpinella in Britain (see below).

Elsewhere one additional British non-dipterous miner is recorded on Pimpinella (see below).




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




1> Blotch mine. Pupation in soil. Puaprium yellow

Mine of Euleia heraclei on Heracleum. Image: Brian Pitkin
Mine of Euleia heraclei on Heracleum. Image: Brian Pitkin

Euleia heraclei (Linnaeus) [Tephritidae].

-> A small regular blotch, which can be enlarged when several larvae feed together. Puparium black

Phytomyza pauliloewi Hendel [Agromyzidae].

-> A relatively short and broad upper surface linear-blotch mine. Puparium black

Phytomyza pimpinellae Hendel [Agromyzidae].

-> A linear mine rigidly following the margin of the leaf segment. Puparium black and shining

Mine of Phytomyza adjuncta on Pimpinella saxifraga. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders)
Mine of Phytomyza adjuncta on Pimpinella saxifraga.
Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders)

Phytomyza adjuncta Hering [Agromyzidae].

-> A short linear mine which considerably widens towards the end, normally starting in the centre of the leaf. Puparium black

Phytomyza melana Hendel [Agromyzidae]



Non-dipterous miners recorded on Pimpinella in Britain

Epermenia aequidentellus (O. Hofmann, 1867) Lepidoptera: Epermeniidae Fauna Europaea

Additional British non-dipterous miners recorded on Pimpinella elsewhere

Epermenia chaerophyllella (Goeze, 1783) Lepidoptera: Epermeniidae British Leafminers UKMoths Nederlandse bladmineerders Fauna Europaea


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Last updated 30-Jul-2008  Brian Pitkin

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