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PTERIDIUM. Bracken. [Dennstaedtiaceae]

Bracken (P. aquilinum), is the only species of Pteridium recorded in Britain. It is a native species. Eight dipterous miners, the agromyzids Phytoliriomyza hilarella and Phytoliriomyza pteridii and the anthomyiids Chirosia albitarsis, Chirosia cinerosa, Chirosia crassiseta, Chirosia grossicauda, Chirosia histricina and Chirosia nigripes, are recorded on Pteridium in Britain. Elsewhere the agromyzids Phytoliriomyza hilarella and Phytoliriomyza pteridii and the anthomyiids Chirosia albitarsis, Chirosia crassiseta, Chirosia grossicauda and Chirosia histricina are recorded mining Pteridium. No non-dipterous miners are recorded on Pteridium in Britain. Elsewhere one British non-dipterous miner is recorded on Pteridium (see below).

Bracken - Pteridium aquilinum

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

#> Details of mine unknown. Chirosia nigripes Bezzi [Anthomyiidae]. #> Details of mine unknown. In leaf stems and fronds (Hennig, 1976). Chirosia cinerosa (Zetterstedt) [Anthomyiidae]. 1> Stalk or mid-rib mine. 2. -> Leaf mine. 3. 2> Oviposition normally on one of the lower secondary pinnulae. The larva enters a vein and from there descends as a borer in the rachis. Often several larvae together. Attacked leaves can be recognised because the leaf is stunted, often remaining partly unfolded. Pupation in the mine or in the ground Chirosia albitarsis (Zetterstedt) [Anthomyiidae]. -> Mine in the lowest part of the petiole, not in the pinnulae-bearing part of the rachis. Often several larvae together. Mined leaves are stunted, often incompletely rolled out. Puparium in the mine or in the ground Chirosia crassiseta Stein [Anthomyiidae]. 3> Mine in the downwards rolled leaf apex. Leaf apex rolls itself downwards as a result of frass of larva on the underside of the leaf midrib and simultaneous growth on its upper side. The leaf is mined dorsally and ventrally on either side of the mid-rib of the frond. Frass irregular, in and next to the mid-rib of the frond. Mines of Chirosia grossicauda on Pteridium aqulinum. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Chirosia grossicauda (Strobl) [Anthomyiidae]. -> Mine in the frond, not its rolled apex. Mine on upperside. Even if deep still greenish in transmitted light. Mine very large and broad, usually extended to full depth of a single leaf section, The frass lies in a single almost unbroken fine, black line, parallel to the leaf margins. Mines of Chirosia histricina on Pteridum aquilinum. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Chirosia histricina Rondani [Anthomyiidae]. -> A short linear mine in single section of a frond. Pupation external. Mines practically identical to those of P. pteridii, which may be distinguished from P. hilarella by the male genitalia. Mine of Phytoliriomyza hilarella on Pteridium aquilinum. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Phytoliriomyza hilarella (Zetterstedt) [Agromyzidae]. -> A short linear mine at edge of frond segment. Pupation external. Mines practically identical to those of P. hilerella which may be distinguished from P. pteridii by the male genitalia. Puparium brownish-orange Phytoliriomyza pteridii Spencer [Agromyzidae].

British non-dipterous miners recorded on Asplenium elsewhere Psychoides verhuella Bruand, 1853 Lepidoptera: Tineidae

Last updated 18-Aug-2008  Brian Pitkin

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