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

 

SPARGANIUM. Bur-reeds. [Sparganiaceae]


Four species of Sparganium are recorded in Britain. These include the native Floating Bur-reed (S. angustifolium), Unbranched Bur-reed (S. emersum), Branched Bur-reed (S. erectum) and Least Bur-reed (S. natans). The BSBI provide a downloadable plant crib for Sparganium.

Four British miners are recorded on Sparganium.

A key to the European miners recorded on Sparganium is provided in Bladmineerders van Europa.

Branched Bur-reed - Sparganium erectum. Image: © Linda Pitkin
Branched Bur-reed
Sparganium erectum



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


1a > Tunneler: Half-mine; a one cm long straight tunnel along the midline of the upperside of the leaf; larva rests in this retreat during the day, emerging to devour the upper epidermis of the leaf during the hours of darkness. Feeding occurs from both ends of the retreat to a similar degree (Bland, 1994a).

The larvae of a number of species of Chironomidae (non-biting midges) live in tunnels in decaying leaf sheaths under water. Their tunnels are open at both ends, and the larvae feed on particles they obtain from a water current they create in the tunnels. They do not feed on tissues of their 'hostplant' and therefore are not strictly miners.

On ? Glyceria, ? Potamogeton and Sparganium in Britain and Glyceria, Potamogeton and Sparganium elsewhere. Widespread in continental Europe. Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland.

Cricotopus tricinctus (Meigen, 1818) [Diptera: Chironomidae].

1b > Leaf-miner: Full depth or lower-surface blotch, usually near the attachement of the petiole. Older larvae do not mine any longer but live in a flat case, made out of leaf fragments, and cause window feeding at the leaf underside. It mines the leaf for the first three days and then forms a flat case from which the larva feeds.

On Hydrocharis, Potamogeton and Sparganium in Britain and Hydrocharis, Nuphar, Nymphaea and Potamogeton elsewhere. Widespread in Britain and continental Europe. Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland.

Elophila nymphaeata (Linnaeus, 1758) [Lepidoptera: Crambidae].

1c > Leaf-miner: When young, the larva mines mainly the leaves or the stem of Sparganium or Nuphar lutea. It hibernates. Later it lives amongst spun leaves just below the surface of the water. Pupation in a white silk cocoon attached to the foodplant at or just below the water-level (Belgian Lepidoptera). Long narrow corridor, on or alongside the midrib. The corridor may descend below the water surface, and does contain frass. After some time the larva cuts itself a case out of the mine, and continues living free, partly under water.

On Nuphar and Sparganium in Britain and Glyceria, Nuphar, Nymphaea, Potamogeton and Sparganium elsewhere. Widespread in Britain. Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland. Widespread in continental Europe.

Nymphula nitidulata (Hufnagel, 1767) [Lepidoptera: Crambidae].

1d > Leaf miner / Stem-borer: Narrow gallery in a young leaf. After having mined for some time the larva becomes a borer in the stem or rhizome. The larvae feed inside the stems.

On Scirpus, Glyceria, Iris, Sparganium and Typha in Britain and Schoenoplectus, Glyceria, Iris and Sparganium elsewhere. Locally distributed from southern England northwards to southern Scotland. Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland. Widespread in continental Europe.

Orthotelia sparganella (Thunberg, 1788) [Lepidoptera: Glyphipterigidae].



XHTML Validator Last updated 07-Jul-2019  Brian Pitkin Top of page