Agromyza spenceri Griffiths, 1963

mine

Oviposition in a transverse row of 3-4 eggs, perpendicular to the leaf margin. The emerging larvae start making individual corridors in the direction of the leaf apex. The mines quickly widen and merge into one communal upper-surface mine. Frass in rather large grains.

host plants

Poaceae, monophagous

Phragmites australis.

BENELUX

Not recorded in the Benelux countries (Fauna Europaea, 2007).

distribution within Europe

From the Baltic States to the Iberian Peninsula (Fauna Europaea, 2007). Described by Griffiths (1963a) from the French Alps. He supposed it to be an alpine species, but the species was rediscovered by Martinez (1984a) in a lowland locality, also in France.

larva

Rear arm of the cephalic skeleton strongly chitinised, brown or black. Rear spiracula separated by about their own diameter.

notes

The dark rear arms of the cephalic skeleton easily distinguish this species from the common e A. phragmitidis, that also lives on Phragmites. The larvae of spenceri are insufficiently described and it is unknown how they can be separated from those of A. hendeli.

references

Beiger (1979a), Černý (2004a, 2013a), Černý, Andrade, Gonçalves & von Tschirnhaus (2018a), Černý & Bächli (2018a), Černý & Merz (2006a), Černý & Vála (1996a), Griffiths (1963a), Martinez (1984a), Nartshuk (2011a), Pakalniškis (1993a), Papp & Černý (2015a).