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SAMBUCUS. Elders. [Caprifoliaceae]

Four species of Sambucus are recorded in Britain. These include the native Elder (S. nigra) and Dwarf Elder (S. ebulus) and the introduced Red-berried Elder (S. racemosa) and American Elder (S. canadensis). Only one dipterous miners, the agromyzid Liriomyza amoena is recorded on Sambucus in Britain. The tephritid Philophylla caesio is tentatively recorded on Sambucus in Britain. It is recorded as a petiole miner on Urtica elsewhere. Elsewhere the agromyzid Liriomyza amoena is recorded mining Sambucus. Although previously recorded as a miner in stems of Sambucus, Botanophila fugax is a common saprophagous species, the larvae normally feeding in the soil (Griffiths, pers. comm.). No non-dipterous miners are recorded on Sambucus in Britain.

Elder - Sambucus nigra

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

1> Larva initially forming an irregular linear leaf mine, which later develops into a conspicuous blotch; frass conspicuous. Mines of Liriomyza amoena on Sambucus nigra. Images: Brian Pitkin Liriomyza amoena (Meigen) [Agromyzidae].

Last updated 30-Jul-2008  Brian Pitkin

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