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SCIRPUS. Club-rushes. [Cyperaceae]

Three species of Scirpus are recorded in Britain. These include the native Wood Club-rush (S. sylvaticus) and the introduced Swamp Club-rush (S. inundatus) and Knotted Club-rush (S. nodosus). Four dipterous miners, the agromyzids Cerodontha angulata and Cerodontha scirpi, Cerodontha suturalis, and ephydrid Hydrellia griseola, are recorded on, or tentatively recorded on, Scirpus in Britain. Elsewhere the agromyzids Cerodontha angulata and Cerodontha scirpi are recorded mining Scirpus. One non-dipterous miners is recorded on Scirpus in Britain (see below). Elsewhere four additional British non-dipterous miners are recorded on Scirpus (see below).

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

1> A long yellowish green leaf mine. Pupation external. Puparium dark brown, frequently adhering to leaf. Mine of Cerodontha angulata on Carex pendula. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Cerodontha (Butomyza) angulata (Loew) [Agromyzidae]. -> A very long mine. Pupation in mine at base of leaf. Puparium brown Cerodontha (Butomyza) scirpi (Karl) [Agromyzidae]. -> Mines and larvae indistinguishable from C. morosa - mine relatively short and broad, not extending into leaf base. Pupation in the mine. Mine of Cerodontha suturalis on Carex arenaria. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Cerodontha (Dizygomyza) suturalis (Hendel) [Agromyzidae]. -> Irregularly formed mine, very shallow and as a result, whitish in colour. In broad leaved plants frequently star-shaped and sometimes a very shallow corridor. In grasses the mine frequently starts in the leaf sheath. The frass is finely grained, initially irregularly spread, later in clumps. The larva may mine more than one leaf. Pupation in separate mine (sometimes even on another plant) without frass. Puparium whitish to dark grey Mine of Hydrellia griseola on Glyceria fluitans. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Hydrellia griseola (Fallén) [Ephydridae].

Non-dipterous miners recorded on Scirpus in Britain Orthotelia sparganella (Thunberg, 1788) Lepidoptera: Glyphipterigidae   Additional British non-dipterous miners recorded on Scirpus elsewhere Elachista albidella Nylander, 1848 Lepidoptera: Elachistidae Elachista scirpi Stainton, 1887 Lepidoptera: Elachistidae   Elachista serricornis (Stainton, 1854) Lepidoptera: Elachistidae Elachista utonella Frey, 1856 Lepidoptera: Elachistidae

Last updated 27-Aug-2008  Brian Pitkin

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