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

 

Phytomyza adjuncta Hering, 1928
[Diptera: Agromyzidae]


Phytomyza adjuncta Hering, 1928. Zool. Jb. Syst. 55: 567
Phytomyza adjuncta Hering, 1928; Hendel, 1934. Fliegen palaearkt. Reg. 6(2): 332
Phytomyza adjuncta Hering, 1928; Spencer, 1972b. Handbk ident. Br. Ins. 10(5g): 89 (figs 299-300), 92, 121
Phytomyza adjuncta Hering, 1928; Spencer, 1976. Fauna ent. Scand. 5(1): 367-9, figs 640-1.
Phytomyza adjuncta Hering, 1928; Spencer, 1990. Host specialization in the World Agromyzidae (Diptera) : 160, 169, 170 (fig. 627).


Leaf-miner: A linear mine rigidly following the margin of the leaf segment (Spencer, 1976: 369).

A long, narrow, upper-surface initial corridor, starting in the centre of a leaflet, that suddenly widens. The wider later corridor closely follows the leaf margin. Frass in irregularly dispersed granules. Primary feeding lines apparent. Pupation outside the mine; exit slit in upper epidermis (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.

The larva is described by de Meijere (1937) and illustrated in Bladmineerders van Europa ; posterior spiracles with approx. 16 bulbs.

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).

Black, shining, smooth and oval; posterior spiracles scarcely raised and each with an ellipse of some 16 bulbs (Spencer, 1976: 369).

Hosts in Great Britain and Ireland:

Apiaceae        
Pimpinella       Robbins, 1991: 64
Pimpinella major Greater Burnet-saxifrage British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Mines in BMNH
Pimpinella major Greater Burnet-saxifrage British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Robbins, 1989: 23
Pimpinella major Greater Burnet-saxifrage British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Spencer, 1972b: 121
Pimpinella saxifraga Burnet-saxifrage British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Robbins, 1989: 23
Pimpinella saxifraga Burnet-saxifrage British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Spencer, 1972b: 121
? Silaum silaus Pepper-saxifrage British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Spencer, 1972b: 121

Hosts elsewhere:

Apiaceae        
Pimpinella       Spencer, 1990: 160
Pimpinella major Greater Burnet-saxifrage British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Spencer, 1976: 369
Pimpinella major Greater Burnet-saxifrage British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Pimpinella saxifraga Burnet-saxifrage British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Spencer, 1976: 369
Pimpinella saxifraga Burnet-saxifrage British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa

Time of year - mines: June, August, October.

Time of year - adults: Currently unknown.

Distribution in Great Britain and Ireland: Middlesex (Scratch Wood and Mill Hill) (Spencer, 1972b: 92) and Warwickshire (Hartshill and Sowe Common) (Robbins, 1991: 64). Mid-west Yorkshire (NBN Atlas).

Distribution elsewhere: Widespread in continental Europe including Denmark, Finland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland (Spencer, 1976: 369), The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg (Bladmineerders van Europa), Germany (Spencer, 1976: 369), Czech Republic, Estonia, French mainland, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Switzerland (Fauna Europaea).

NBN Atlas links to known host species:

Aconitum napellus, Pimpinella major, Pimpinella saxifraga, ? Silaum silaus

British and Irish Parasitoids in Britain and elsewhere:

Ichneumonoidea - Links to species no longer available  
Dacnusa laevipectus Thomson, 1895 Braconidae: Alysiinae
Opius pygmaeus Fischer, 1962 Braconidae: Opiinae


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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