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SONCHUS. Sow-thistles. [Asteraceae]

Six species of Sonchus are recorded in Britain. These include the native Prickly Sow-thistle (S. asper), Smooth Sow-thistle (S. oleraceus), Perennial Sow-thistle (S. arvensis) and Marsh Sow-thistle (S. palustris). Eight dipterous miners, the agromyzids Chromatomyia syngenesiae, Liriomyza sonchi, Liriomyza strigata, Ophiomyia beckeri, Ophiomyia cunctata, Ophiomyia pulicaria, Phytoliriomyza arctica and Phytomyza marginella are recorded on Sonchus in Britain. The agromyzids Liriomyza huidobrensis, Liriomyza sativae and Liriomyza trifolii, polyphagous pest species of ornamental and vegetable crops occasionally intercepted at UK points of entry, are recorded on Sonchus. Liriomyza huidobrensis and Liriomyza trifolii have been found under glass in England and Wales. All populations have been and continue to be eradicated. Elsewhere the agromyzids Chromatonyia horticola, Chromatomyia syngenesiae, Liriomyza bryoniae, Liriomyza huidobrensis, Liriomyza sativae, Liriomyza sonchi, Liriomyza taraxaci, Liriomyza trifolii, Ophiomyia beckeri, Ophiomyia cunctata, Ophiomyia pulicaria, Phytoliriomyza arctica and Phytomyza marginella and the tephritid Trypeta immaculata are recorded mining Sonchus. One non-dipterous leaf-miner is recorded on Sonchus in Britain and elsewhere (see below).

Smooth Sow-thistle - Sonchus oleraceus

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

1> External stem-miner. Phytoliriomyza arctica (Lundbeck) [Agromyzidae]. ->Leaf mine. 2. 2> Mine primarily associated with the mid-rib. 3. ->Mine not primarily associated with the mid-rib. 4. 3> A distinctive mine with irregular short lateral offshoots into leaf blade. Pupation external.     Mines of Liriomyza strigata on Sonchus. Image: Crown copyright - courtesy of CSL Liriomyza strigata (Meigen) [Agromyzidae]. ->A whitish blotch-mine along mid-rib, with offshoots into leaf blade. Pupation takes place at the base of the mid-rib. Puparium yellowish white Mine of Ophiomyia cunctata on Taraxacum officinale. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Ophiomyia cunctata (Hendel) [Agromyzidae]. ->A whitish blotch-mine along the mid-rib, with lateral offshoots into the leaf blade. Pupation internal. Puparium pale, whitish-yellow Mine of Ophiomyia pulicaria on Taraxacum officinale. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Ophiomyia pulicaria (Meigen) [Agromyzidae]. ->A white mine along mid-rib, with offshoots into leaf blade. Pupation internal at base of mid-rib. Puparium whitish Mine of Ophiomyia beckeri on Lapsana communis. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Ophiomyia beckeri (Hendel) [Agromyzidae]. 4> Mine linear, whitish, both upper and lower surface. Pupation internal, at the end of the mine, with the anterior spiracles projecting through the epidermis. Mine of Chromatomyia atricornis on Sonchus olearaceus. Images: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Chromatomyia syngenesiae (Hardy) [Agromyzidae. ->Larva mining both lower and upper surface, unusually long, linear, conspicuously broad, frequently largely on the underside of the leaf. Pupation external. Puparium black Mine of Phytomyza marginella on Lapsana communis. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Phytomyza marginella Fallén [Agromyzidae]. ->A small primary blotch, often several larvae feeding together. Mine of Liriomyza sonchi on Sonchus asper. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Liriomyza sonchi Hendel [Agromyzidae].

Non-dipterous miners recorded on Sonchus in Britain and elsewhere Orthochaetes setiger (Beck, 1817) Coleoptera: Curculionidae

Last updated 12-Oct-2008  Brian Pitkin

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