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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. crsipus), 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. Four dipterous miners, the scathophagid Norellisoma spinimana and the anthomyiids Pegomya solennis, Pegomya bicolor and Pegomya haemorrhoum, are recorded on Rumex in Britain. The larvae of the drosophilid Scaptomyza pallida (See Allium) 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. The agromyzid Liriomyza sativae, a polyphagous pest species of ornamental and vegetable crops occasionally intercepted at UK points of entry, is recorded on Rumex. Four non-dipterous miners are recorded on Rumex (see below).

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

#> Details of mine unknown. Norellisoma spinimana (Fallén) [Scathophagidae]. 1> Leaf mine. Linear mine, becoming a blotch. Two or more larvae feeding together. Frass in lines. Mine of Pegomyia solennis on Rumex obtusifolius. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Pegomya solennis (Meigen) [Anthomyiidae]. -> Leaf mine. Large upper side blotch or blister mine, which can start with a short corridor. In small leaves the mine can be full depth in places. Often several larvae in a mine; frass irregularly scattered in large lumps. Pupation external. Pegomya bicolor (Wiedemann) [Anthomyiidae]. -> Leaf mine. Mine without spiral or tightly wound loops. Mine shallow, dorsal or ventral, greenish in transmitted light (only in small leaves sometimes full depth, but then the frass, when corridor-like, always in separate grains). One or more egg shells at the beginning of the mine on the ventral surface of the leaf. Details of puparium unknown. Pegomya haemorrhoum (Zetterstedt) [Anthomyiidae].  .

Anthomyiid mines on Rumex Anthomyiid mines on Rumex

Non-dipterous miners recorded on Rumex in Britain Adscita statices (Linnaeus, 1758) Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae   Calybites phasianipennella (Hübner, 1813) Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae Cnephasia incertana (Treitschke, 1835) Lepidoptera: Tortricidae   Enteucha acetosae (Stainton, 1854) Lepidoptera: Nepticulidae

Last updated 06-May-2008  Brian Pitkin