HOME : Introduction : Methods : Miners : Parasitoids Host plants by Scientific name : Common name References : Web resources : Acknowledgements : Recent changes : Index : Search

VERONICA. Speedwells. [Scrophulariaceae]

Forty species of Veronica are recorded in Britain. Seventeen of these are native. Spiked Speedwell (V. spicata) and Fingered Speedwell (V. triphyllus) are protected under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. Two dipterous miners, the agromyzid Phytomyza crassiseta and the ephydrid Hydrellia griseola, are recorded on Veronica in Britain. Elsewhere the agromyzids Liriomyza strigata and Phytomyza crassiseta and the ephydrid Hydrellia griseola are recorded mining Veronica. One non-dipterous leaf-miner is recorded on Veronica in Britain (see below).

Garden Speedwell - Veronica longifolia.

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

1> Mine normally begins along margin of leaf, sometimes later developing into a secondary blotch. Pupation takes place on the lower surface of the leaf, with the anterior spiracles normally projecting through the epidermis; puparium slender, white or yellowish, with a conspicuous dark band running centrally along the ventral surface. Puparium white or yellowish Mine of Phytomyza crassiseta on Veronica chamaedrys. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Phytomyza crassiseta Zetterstedt [Agromyzidae]. ->Irregularly formed mine, very shallow and as a result, whitish in colour. In broad leaved plants frequently star-shaped and sometimes a very shallow corridor. In grasses the mine frequently starts in the leaf sheath. The frass is finely grained, initially irregularly spread, later in clumps. The larva may mine more than one leaf. Pupation in separate mine (sometimes even on another plant) without frass. Puparium whitish to dark grey Mine of Hydrellia griseola on Glyceria fluitans. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Hydrellia griseola (Fallén) [Ephydridae].

Non-dipterous miners recorded on Veronica in Britain Apteropeda orbiculata (Marsham, 1802) Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae

Last updated 30-Jul-2008  Brian Pitkin

.