The leaf and stem mines of British flies and other insects by Brian Pitkin, Willem Ellis, Colin Plant and Rob Edmunds
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TUSSILAGO. Colt's-foot. [Asteraceae]

Colt's-foot (T. farfara) is the only species of Tussilago recorded in Britain.

Three dipterous miners, the agromyzid Phytomyza tussilaginis and the tephritids Acidia cognata and Trypeta zoe are recorded on Tussilago in Britain.

Elsewhere the agromyzids Liriomyza strigata, Liriomyza huidobrensis and Phytomyza tussilaginis, and the tephritids Acidia cognata, Stemonocera cornuta and Trypeta zoe are recorded mining Tussilago.

Three non-dipterous miners are recorded on Tussilago in Britain (see below).

Colt's-foot - Tussilago farfara Image: Brian Pitkin
Colt's-foot - Tussilago farfara.


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


1>Blotch mine. Pupation external. Puparium yellow

Mine of Stemonocera cornuta on Eupatorium cannabinum. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders)
Mine of Stemonocera cornuta on Eupatorium cannabinum.
Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders)

Stemonocera cornuta (Scopoli) [Tephritidae].

-> An upper surface corridor mine, becoming strongly broadened and blotch-like. The mine can occupy a considerable part of a small leaf. Mines frequently merge, and then accommodate several larvae. Pupation external, in soil. Puparium yellow

Mine of Acidia cognata on Tussilago farfara. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Mine of Acidia cognata on Tussilago farfara. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders)
Mine of Acidia cognata on Tussilago farfara.
Images: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders)

Acidia cognata (Wiedemann) [Tephritidae].

->Corridor mine following the mid-rib, with lateral offshoots. Puparium yellow

Mine of Trypeta zoe on Artemisia vulgaris. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders)
Mine of Trypeta zoe on Artemisia vulgaris.
Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders)

Trypeta zoe Meigen [Tephritidae].

->A long linear greenish-white mine which can conspicuously widen at end, with frass in separate grains. Puparium black

Mine of Phytomyza tussilaginis on Petasites hybridus. Image: Brian Pitkin Mine of Phytomyza tussilaginis on Petasites hybridus. Image: Brian Pitkin Mine of Phytomyza tussilaginis on Petasites hybridus. Image: Brian Pitkin
Mines of Phytomyza tussilaginis on Petasites hybridus. Image: Brian Pitkin

Phytomyza tussilaginis Hendel [Agromyzidae].

Non-dipterous miners recorded on Tussilago in Britain

Platyptilia gonodactyla (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae   UKMoths Nederlandse bladmineerders Fauna Europaea
Scrobipalpa acuminatella (Sircom, 1850) Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae British Leafminers UKMoths Nederlandse bladmineerders Fauna Europaea
Scrobipalpula tussilaginis (Stainton, 1867) Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae     Nederlandse bladmineerders Fauna Europaea


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Last updated 05-Aug-2008  Brian Pitkin

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