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

 

Agromyza cinerascens Macquart, 1835
[Diptera: Agromyzidae]

Agromyza cinerascens Macquart, 1835. Hist. nat. Ins., Dipt. 2: 610
Agromyza cinerascens Macquart, 1835; Hendel, 1931. Fliegen palaearkt. Reg. 6(2): 111
Agromyza cinerascens Macquart, 1835; Spencer, 1972b. Handbk ident. Br. Ins. 10(5g): 32 (fig. 83), 33, 123
Agromyza cinerascens Macquart, 1835; Spencer, 1976. Fauna ent. Scand. 5(1): 102-3, fig. 154
Agromyza cinerascens Macquart, 1835; Spencer, 1990. Host specialization in the world Agromyzidae (Diptera) : 355, 356, 360 (fig. 1349), 361.


Leaf-miner: Deep mine, broadened irregularly. Pupation external (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Larva: The larvae of flies are leg-less maggots without a head capsule (see examples). They never have thoracic or abdominal legs. They do not have chewing mouthparts, although they do have a characteristic cephalo-pharyngeal skeleton (see examples), usually visible internally through the body wall.

Mandibles with two teeth; anterior spiracles each with about 18 bulbs.

Below the mandibles no field with spiny warts. Front spiracles bifid, about 18 bulbs. Rear spiracula rather strongly approaching, with 3 bulbs. Mandibles with 2, not alternating, teeth (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Puparium: The puparia of flies are formed within the hardened last larval skin or puparium and as a result sheaths enclosing head appendages, wings and legs are not visible externally (see examples).

Reddish-brown to black; posterior spiracular processes widely separated (Spencer, 1976: 103).

Hosts in Great Britain and Ireland:

Poaceae        
Dactylis glomerata Cock's-foot British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Robbins, 1991: 135
Dactylis glomerata Cock's-foot British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Spencer, 1972b: 123

Hosts elsewhere:

Poaceae        
Dactylis       Spencer, 1990: 355
Dactylis glomerata Cock's-foot British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Spencer, 1976: 103
Dactylis glomerata Cock's-foot British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Milium effusum     Bladmineerders van Europa
Secale       Spencer, 1990: 356
Secale cereale Rye   Spencer, 1976: 103
Secale cereale Rye   Bladmineerders van Europa

Time of year - mines: Currently unknown.

Time of year - adults: April.

Distribution in Great Britain and Ireland: Widespread, at least in south. Surrey (Bookham, Limpsfield and Mitcham), Sussex (Buxted), Gloucester. (Bristol), Hampshire (Holywell), Suffolk (Barton Mills) (Spencer, 1972b: 33), Warwickshire (Allesley and Longford) (Robbins, 1991: 135); Cambridgeshire, South-west Yorkshire and Surrey (NBN Atlas).

Distribution elsewhere: Widespread in continental Europe including Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden (Spencer, 1976: 103), The Netherlands (Bladmineerders van Europa), Germany (Spencer, 1976: 546), Belarus, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, French mainland, Hungary, Italian mainland, Lithuania, Poland, Sicily, Slovakia and Spanish mainland (Fauna Europaea).

Also recorded in Japan (Spencer, 1976: 103).

NBN Atlas links to known host species:

Dactylis glomerata, Milium effusum, Secale cereale

British and Irish Parasitoids in Britain and elsewhere: Currently unknown.



External links: Search the internet:
Biodiversity Heritage Library
Bladmineerders van Europa
British leafminers
Encyclopedia of Life
Fauna Europaea
NBN Atlas
NHM UK Checklist
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