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SECALE. Rye. [Poaceae]

Two species of Secale are recorded in Britain. These include Rye (S. cereale) is a weed of wheat and barley in Britain. Seven dipterous miners, the agromyzids Agromyza ambigua, Agromyza intermittens, Agromyza nigrella, Agromyza nigrociliata, Agromyza rondensis, Chromatomyia nigra and Pseudonapomyza atra, are recorded on Secale in Britain. Miners on grasses should be reared, whenever possible, to confirm their identity. Elsewhere the agromyzids Agromyza albipennis, Agromyza ambigua, Agromyza cinerascens, Agromyza intermittens, Agromyza luteitarsis, Agromyza mobilis, Agromyza nigrella, Agromyza nigrociliata, Agromyza rondensis, Cerodontha denticornis, Cerodontha incisa, Cerodontha lateralis, Cerodontha muscina, Cerodontha pygmaea, Cerodontha superciliosa, Chromatomyia fuscula, Chromatomyia nigra and Pseudonapomyza atra and the ephydrid Hydrellia griseola are recorded mining Secale. No non-dipterous miners are recorded on Secale in Britain.

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

1> A broad corridor mine; larva solitary. Puparium reddish-brown Agromyza intermittens (Becker) [Agromyzidae]. -> Leaf-mine normally short and broad. Initially the larva does not feed towards the apex of the leaf. Pupation external. Puparium yellowish-brown Agromyza ambigua Fallén [Agromyzidae]. -> Larval leaf mine starts as a narrow channel running towards apex of leaf but later develops into a broad blotch running downwards. Frass largely diffused, giving the mine a characteristic greenish appearance. Pupation external. Puparium reddish-brown Agromyza nigrella (Rondani) [Agromyzidae]. ->The young larva first feeds towards the apex of the leaf, later turning and feeding downwards. Several larvae can occur together in a single leaf. Pupation external. Puparium reddish-brown Mine of Agromyza nigrociliata on Arrhenatherum elatius. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Agromyza nigrociliata Hendel [Agromyzidae]. -> Mine greenish with only single larva, initially running towards apex of leaf before turning back down and developing into a broad blotch. Puparium reddish brown Agromyza rondensis Strobl [Agromyzidae]. -> Long, narrow, whitish mine. Pupation internal. Puparium yellowish-brown, anterior spiracles projecting through the epidermis. Mine of Chromatomyia nigra on Arrhenatherum elatius. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Chromatomyia nigra (Meigen) [Agromyzidae]. -> A short narrow mine, generally near apex of leaf. Larva with each segment bearing a row of characteristic papilli which are retained in the puparium. Pseudonapomyza atra (Meigen) [Agromyzidae].

Last updated 05-Aug-2008  Brian Pitkin

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