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VIOLA. Violets and Pansies. [Violaceae]

Eighteen species of Viola are recorded in Britain. Thirteen of these are native species. Fen Violet (V. persicifolia) is protected under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 and in Northern Ireland under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order, 1985. Three dipterous miners, the agromyzids Galiomyza violiphaga and Liriomyza strigata and the drodophilid Scaptomyza flava, are recorded on Viola in Britain. The agromyzid Liriomyza huidobrensis, a polyphagous pest species of ornamental and vegetable crops occasionally intercepted at UK points of entry, is recorded on Viola. The species has been found under glass in England and Wales. All populations have been and continue to be eradicated. Elsewhere the agromyzids Chromatomyia horticola,Galiomyza violiphaga, Liriomyza huidobrensis and Liriomyza strigata are recorded mining Viola. No non-dipterous miners are recorded on Viola in Britain.

Violet - Viola sp.  .

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

1> Mine primarily associated with the mid-rib. 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]. -> Mine not primarily associated with the mid-rib. 2. 2> A shallow, upper surface whitish blotch mine, beginning with initial short linear section, which is largely invisible within the blotch. Puparium orange Mine of Galiomyza violiphaga on Viola sp. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Galiomyza violiphaga (Hendel) [Agromyzidae]. -> Corridor-blotch mine, normally dorsal; usually whitish; in small leaves it lies characteristically in the centre of the leaf often touching the petiole; in larger leaves it lies to one side of the mid-rib. Frass deposited in green clumps near the leaf margin. Pupation usually external, sometimes in a separate pupation mine. Mine of Scaptomyza flava on Brassica rapa. Image: Willem Ellis (Source: Nederlandse bladmineerders) Scaptomyza flava (Fallén) [Drosophilidae].

Last updated 30-Jul-2008  Brian Pitkin

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