Chromatomyia gentianae (Hendel, 1920)
mainly on Gentianaceae

Gentiana cruciata, Albania, prov. Shkodër, Theth, 16.vii.2017 © Cor Zonneveld

detail

Gentiana cruciata, Amstelveen, JP Thijssepark
mine
The mine begins as a small upper-surface blotch, from which corridors radiate. Wile these become longer and more numerous a secondary blotch develops. Frass in pearl strings. Pupation within the mine. The front spiracula of the white puparium penetrate the plant epidermis.
hostplants
Gentianaceae, Melanthaceae, constrained polyphagous
Centaurium erythraea; Gentiana asclepiadea, cruciata, lutea, pannonica, pneumonanthe, punctata, septemfida, tibetica; Gentianella; Veratrum album.
phenology
Larvae in July and August-September (Hering, 1957a).
BENELUX
BE not recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2007).
NE recorded (Beuk, 2002a).
LUX not recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2007).
distribution within Europe
From Lithuania to the Iberian Peninsula, and the the Netherlands to Italy; also Bulgaria (Fauna Europaea, 2007).
larve
synonyms
Phytomyza gentianae; Ph. veratri Hering, 1941; Chromatomyia hecate Pakalniškis, 1998.
notes
In small plants the larvae can also mine the stem (Buhr, 1964a).
Beri (1971e) describes the larva from an unindentified Lamiaceae in India. It is most improbable that his identification is correct.
references
Ahr (1966a), Beiger (1960a, 2005a), Beri (1972e), Beuk (2002a), Buhr (1941a, 1964a), Černý & Merz (2007a), Černý & Vála (1996a), Csóka (2003a), van Frankenhuyzen, Houtman & Kabos (1982a), Godfray (2015a), Griffiths (1962a), Hartig (1939a), Hering (1926b, 1928a, 1941a, 1957a), Huber (1969a), Kvičala (1938a), Maček (1999a), de Meijere (1926a, 1941a), Pakalniškis (1989b), Robbins (1991a), Sasakawa (1961a), Skala (1936a), Skala & Zavřel (1945a), Spencer (1972a), Starý (1930a), Süss (1982a, 1992a), Surányi (1942a), von Tschirnhaus (1982a, 1999a).