Chromatomyia aprilina (Goureau, 1851)
on Lonicera
Lonicera periclymenum, Duin en Kruidberg, 13.ix.2001
Lonicera periclymenum, Durgerdam, 30.vi.2005: midrib, left part untouched, right part mined out; the mined part looks much more fuzzy; it does contain frass, but this is only visible after the midrib has been split lengthwise
Lonicera xylosteum, Vreeland, Veterans estate, 18.x.2020 © Wouter Bosgra
mine
The very first part of the mine is a quite inconspicuous, lower-surface epidermal corridor, that ends upon the midrib. Then the larva bores in the midrib, from where it makes long upper-surface corridors. Often the latest corridor that is made is much longer than the others, and follows the leaf outline in a loose loop. Frass in long strings at the extreme side of the mine. Pupation in the mine, in a lower-surface pupal chamber; the puparium is pale green (white, when vacated); the front spiracula penetrate the epidermis.
host plants
Caprifoliacease, oligophagous
Lonicera alpigena, biflora, caerulea, caprifolium, etrusca, implexa, ledebourii, maacki, nigra, periclymenum, tatarica, xylosteum; Symphoricarpos albus, occidentalis.
phenology
Larvae have been found from June to August mines till October; according to Griffiths there are two generations.
However, possibly the number of generations is indefinite: Stéphane Claerebout found in southern Belgium, after a very mild winter, an occupied mine on March 9th, 2015.
BENELUX
BE recorded (Ellis, prov. Liège, Luxembourg).
NE recorded (de Meijere, 1926a, als Phytomyza xylostei Robineau-Desvoidy).
LUX recorded (Ellis, Kautenbach).
distribution within Europe
From Norway to the Iberian Peninsula and Italy, and from Ireland to Poland (Fauna Europaea, 2007).
larve
puparium
synonyms
Phytomyza aprilina; Ph. lonicerae: de Meijere, 1934:284; Phytomyza lonicerella Hendel, 1932; Rubiomyza, Phytomyza xylostei Robineau-Desvoidy, 1851, nec Kaltenbach, 1862.
parasitoids, predators
notes
A very common species in the Netherlands.
In mild winters the Honeysuckle foliage remains green, and there sometimes a type of mines can be found that is strongly deviant because there is no association with the midrib. The green puparium clearly indicates that that it concerns aprilina, and this has been confirmed by breeding (thanks to Martin Dempewolf for confirming the identification of the adults).
Lonicera periclymenum, Castricum, 11.iv.2002; mine of the winter generation
references
Bland (1977a, 2010a), Buhr (1932a, 1941b, 1964a), Černý, Andrade, Gonçalves & von Tschirnhaus (2018a), Černý & Vála (1999a), van Frankenhuyzen Houtman & Kabos (1982a), Griffiths (1974a), Haase (1942a), Hartig (1939a), Hering (1926b, 1936b, 1955b, 1957a), Hubble (2013a), Huber (1969a), Kollár (2007a), Maček (1999a), de Meijere (1926a, 1939a), Michalska (1970a), Nowakowski (1954a), Papp & Černý (2020a), Robbins (1991a), Sønderup (1949a), Spencer (1953a, 1954d, 1960a, 1967a, 1969a, 1972a, 1976a), Starke (1942a), Starý (1930a), Surányi (1942a), von Tschirnhaus (1999a).