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 marginella Fallén, 1823
[Diptera: Agromyzidae]


Phytomyza marginella Fallén, 1823b. Phytomyzides et Ochtidiae Sveciae : 3
Phytomyza sonchi Robineau-Desvoidy, 1851. Rev. Mag. Zool. (2)3: 400
Phytomyza sonchi Robineau-Desvoidy, 1851; Hendel, 1935. Fliegen palaearkt. Reg. 6(2): 481
Phytomyza marginella Fallén, 1823b; Spencer, 1972b. Handbk ident. Br. Ins. 10(5g): 76 (figs 250-1), 80, 114, 115
Phytomyza marginella Fallén, 1823b; Spencer, 1976. Fauna ent. Scand. 5(1): 444-6, figs 779-80.
Phytomyza marginella Fallén, 1823b; Spencer, 1990. Host specialization in the World Agromyzidae (Diptera) : 175, 259, 266 (fig. 1006), 267.


Leaf-miner: Larva mining both lower and upper surface, unusually long, linear, conspicuously broad, frequently largely on the underside of the leaf. Pupation external (Spencer, 1972b: 76 (fig. 251); Spencer, 1976: 445 (fig. 780), 446).

Corridor mine. The first part consists of a very long and narrow lower-surface corridor; the mine is quite shollow here, and often inconspicuous. The second part is upper-surface, uusally much shorter, and widens abruptly. Pupation outside the mine (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, as sonchi) and Griffiths (1977).

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; posterior spiracles each with up to 30 bulbs (Spencer, 1976: 446).

Comments: Leontodon autumnalis is treated as Scorzoneroides autumnalis (Autumn Hawkbit) by Stace (2010).

Hosts in Great Britain and Ireland:

Asteraceae        
Crepis       Robbins, 1991: 124
Crepis vesicaria Beaked Hawk's-beard British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Mines in BMNH
Hieracium       Mines in BMNH
Hieracium       Robbins, 1991: 124
Hieracium sabaudum     Robbins, 1989: 25, as perpropinquum
Lapsana       Mines in BMNH
Lapsana       Robbins, 1991: 124
Lapsana communis Nipplewort British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Mines in BMNH
Lapsana communis Nipplewort British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Spencer, 1972b: 114
Picris sp.     Spencer, 1972b: 114
Picris echioides Bristly Oxtongue British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Mines in BMNH, as Picris
Picris hieracioides Hawkweed Oxtongue British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Mines in BMNH
Pilosella officinarum Mouse-ear-hawkweed British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Robbins, 1989: 25 (as Hieracium pilosella)
Senecio aquaticus Marsh Ragwort British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bland, 1992
Sonchus       Robbins, 1991: 124
Sonchus arvensis Perennial Sow-thistle British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Robbins, 1989: 25
Sonchus asper Prickly Sow-thistle British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Robbins, 1989: 25
Sonchus oleraceus Smooth Sow-thistle British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Mines in BMNH
Sonchus oleraceus Smooth Sow-thistle British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Spencer, 1972b: 115
Taraxacum       Robbins, 1991: 124
Taraxacum officinale Dandelion British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Mines in BMNH
Taraxacum officinale Dandelion British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Spencer, 1972b: 115

Hosts elsewhere:

omyza leucanthemi" target="_blank">Find images using Google
Asteraceae    


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