Scolymus [Apiaceae] in Leaf and stem mines of British flies and other insects

The leaf and stem mines of British flies and other insects

(Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera)

by Brian Pitkin, Willem Ellis, Colin Plant and Rob Edmunds

SCOLYMUS. Golden Thistle. [Asteraceae]

Three species of Scolymus are recorded in Britain. All are introduced and include Golden Thistle (S. hispanicus), S. grandiflorus and S. maculatus.

Only one British miners is recorded on Scolymus.

Key for the identification of the known mines of British
insects (Diptera and non-Diptera) recorded on Scolymus

1 > Leaf-miner: A shallow, upper surface, whitish linear mine. Pupation external (Spencer, 1972b: 72 (fig. 233A), 77).

Tortuous, upper-surface corridor, often somewhat geryish, and/or following the leaf margin. Frass grains fairly small, separated by about their own diameter. Primary feeding lines often conspicuous. Pupation outside the mine; exit slit in upper epidermis.

A long whitish upper surface mine. The frass grains are small and can occur close together.

Mine of Phytomyza cirsii on Cirsium arvense. Image: © Willem Ellis (Source: Bladmineerders en plantengallen van Europa)

On Cirsium, but not yet on Scolymus, in Britain, plus Carduus, Cyanara, ? Scolymus and Serratula elsewhere. Widespread in Britain, probably not uncommon but overlooked. Also recorded from the Republic of Ireland. Widespread and common in much of Europe

Phytomyza cirsii Hendel, 1923 [Diptera: Agromyzidae].


	Last updated 28-Jun-2016 Brian Pitkin