RUMEX. Docks and Sorrel. [Polygonaceae]

Thirteen species and numerous hybrids of Rumex are recorded as native to Britain. These include Common Sorrel (R. acetosa), Curled Dock (R. crispus), Water Dock (R. hydrolapathum), Northern Dock (R. longifolius) and Broad-leaved Dock (R. obtusifolius).

Shore Dock (R. rupestris) is protected under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981.

Three Diptera miners, the anthomyiids Pegomya bicolor and Pegomya haemorrhoum, are recorded on Rumex in Britain.

The anthomyiid Pegomya solennis is recorded on Rumex by Ackland in Chandler (1978), but it is not clear whether this host association is British or Foreign.

The scathophagid Norellisoma spinimana is a stem-borer on Rumex.

The larvae of the drosophilid Scaptomyza pallida have been bred from Rumex sulicifolius (Adults in BMNH), although it is not clear whether these were mining.

The British agromyzid Amauromyza monfalconensis is recorded as a stem-miner of Rumex, although this host record is not based on British specimens.

Elsewhere the polyphagous agromyzid Liriomyza strigata is recorded on Rumex.

Four non-Diptera mines are recorded mining Rumex (see below).

The moth Coleophora hydrolapathella is recorded feeding in the seeds of Rumex hydrolapathum (see British leafminers).

Key for the identification of British non-Diptera mines recorded on
Rumex

Note: The larvae of mining Coleoptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera may live in a corridor mine, a corridor-blotch mine, a blotch mine, a case, a rolled or folded leaf, a tentiform mine or sandwiched between two more or less circular leaf sections in later instars. Larva may pupate in a silk cocoon. The larva may have at least six legs (although they may be reduced or absent), a head capsule and chewing mouthparts with opposable mandibles (see video of a gracillarid larva feeding). Larvae of Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera usually also have abdominal legs (see examples). Frass, if present, never in two rows. Unless feeding externally from within a case the larva usually vacates the mine by chewing an exit hole. Pupa with visible head appendages, wings and legs which lie in sheaths (see examples).

1a > Leaf-miner: The larva initially mines a leaf of Common sorrel (Rumex acetosa) in July and August, and then feeds externally on lower leaves until May, when it pupates in a cocoon near the ground among vegetation (UKMoths). Young larvae make a number of rather large, untidy full depth mines. The mines contain little of no frass. The lower-surface opening, by which the larva has entered the mine, is irregularly roundish. Older larvae live free on the plant (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Recorded on Rumex in Britain and elsewhere. Widespread in Britain and continental Europe. Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland.

 

Adscita statices (Linnaeus, 1758) [Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae].

1b > Leaf-miner: Initially a gallery is formed, this turning into a blotch, and later two successive conical leaf-rolls (UKMoths). Initially a pale, later brown, usually lower-surface blotch. The blotch is preceded by an epidermal corridor, but that may be obliterated by the later blotch. Silk at the inside of the mine causes it to buckle up a bit and fold. The reddish brown frass is accumulated in a corner of the mine. The older larva leaves the mine and continues feeding inside an untidy cone, made by cutting off a strip of leaf tissue and stitching it in place with silk (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Recorded on Fallopia, Lysimachia, Persicaria, Polygonum and Rumex in Britain and Chenopodium, Lysimachia, Lythrum, Persicaria, Oxyria, Persicaria, Polygonum and Rumex elsewhere. Occurring locally in England, Scotland and parts of Ireland. Widespread in continental Europe.

 

Calybites phasianipennella (Hübner, 1813) [Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae].

1c > Leaf-miner: In the first instar the larva mines the leaves, forming short, irregular, blotch-like mines, but in later instars it lives externally, feeding in spun leaves and often twisting those of tender shoots. Larval head light-brown or yellowish brown, edged with black postero-laterally, ocellar area blackish; prothoracic plate black edged with whitish anteriorly; abdomen dull dark green; pinacula distinct, black, sometimes brownish but with black bases to setae; anal plate large, black (Bradley et al., 1973). Small, full depth mine without a definite shape; little frass. Some silk is deposited in the mine. The larva soon leaves the mine and continues feeding among spun leaves (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Recorded on numerous genera and species of several plant families, including Rumex, in Britain and elsewhere. Widespread in Britain and continental Europe. Also recorded fromthe Channel Is.

 

Cnephasia incertana (Treitschke, 1835) [Lepidoptera: Tortricidae].

1d > Leaf-miner: Oviposition at the leaf underside, usually near a vein. The mine is a narrow, hardly widening, corridor that makes about 5 whole of half circles closely around the egg. The leaf tissue around th mine is intensely reddened; often several mines in a leaf. Frass in a narrow central line. The gallery starts in tight spirals, turning leaf red (British leafminers). The larva moves away in an irregular gallery (UKMoths). Pupation outside the mine (Bladmineerders van Europa). Pupation on detritus in a cocoon (British leafminers).

Recorded on Rumex in Britain and elsewhere. Widespread in southern England and continental Europe. Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland.