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TARAXACUM. Dandelion. [Asteraceae]

Two hundred and thirty-three species of Taraxacum are recorded in Britain. One hundred and forty of these are native and include Dandelion (T. officinalis agg.). Ten dipterous miners, the agromyzids Chromatomyia 'atricornis', Chromatomyia farfarella, Chromatomyia syngenesiae, Liriomyza strigata, Liriomyza taraxaci, Ophiomyia beckeri, Ophiomyia cunctata, Ophiomyia pulicaria and Phytomyza marginella and the tephritid Trypeta immaculata are recorded on Taraxacum 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 Taraxacum. Liriomyza huidobrensis and Liriomyza trifolii have been found under glass in England and Wales. All populations have been and continue to be eradicated. The agromyzid Phytomyza wahlgreni causes galls in the leaf midrib or flower stalk of Taraxacum in Britain and elsewhere. The agromyzid Ophiomyia nasuta has recently been recorded from Britain (Gibbs, 2006), but it is not known whether this feeds in the leaves or stems. Elsewhere the agromyzids Chromatomyia horticola, Chromatomyia farfarella, Chromatomyia fuscula, Chromatomyia syngenesiae, Liriomyza huidobrensis, Liriomyza sativae, Liriomyza strigata, Liriomyza taraxaci, Liriomyza trifolii, Ophiomyia beckeri, Ophiomyia cunctata, Ophiomyia pinguis, Ophiomyia pulicaria and Phytomyza marginella and the tephritid Trypeta immaculata are recorded mining Taraxacum. Two non-dipterous minersare recorded on Taraxacum in Britain (see below).

Dandelion - Taraxacum officinale agg.

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

#> Details of mine unknown. Pupation internal. Puparium yellow Trypeta immaculata (Macquart) [Tephritidae]. 1> Mine associated with mid-rib. 2. -> Mine not associated with mid-rib. 3. 2> Larva feeding in the mid-rib where a gall-like swelling is produced. Pupation at base of leaf, near exit hole prepared by larva prior to pupation. Phytomyza wahlgreni Rydén [Agromyzidae]. -> A distinctive mine primarily above mid-rib, with irregular short lateral offshoots into leaf blade. Pupation external.     Mines of Liriomyza strigata on Sonchus Liriomyza strigata (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]. -> 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]. 2> A narrow, whitish linear mine. Pupation internal. Chromatomyia farfarella (Hendel) [Agromyzidae]. -> 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 'atricornis' auctt. [Agromyzidae] 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, somewhat irregular, elongate blotch. Mine of Liriomyza taraxaci on Taraxacum officinale. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Liriomyza taraxaci Hering [Agromyzidae].

Non-dipterous miners recorded on Taraxacum in Britain Cnephasia conspersana Douglas, 1846 Lepidoptera: Tortricidae   Orthochaetes setiger (Beck, 1817) Coleoptera: Curculionidae

Last updated 30-Jul-2008  Brian Pitkin

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