Phytomyza actaeae Hendel, 1922

on Actaea

Phytomyza actaeae: mines on Actaea spicata

Actaea spicata, GD Luxembourg, Hollenfels © Sébastien Carbonnelle

Phytomyza actaeae: young mine on Actaea spicata

young mine and feeding punctures

mine

Large upper-surface, greyish-green, later brownish, blotch with conspicuous primary and secondary feeding lines. Often several larvae in a mine. Frass in irregularly dispersed granules. According to Hering (1957a), pupation takes place outside the mine, but Pakalniškis (2004a) states the opposite.

hostplants

Ranunculaceae, oligophagous

Actaea europaea, japonica, spicata.

Dreger & Myssura (2005a) additionally mention Clematis.

phenology

Mines from May to August (Hering, 1957a).

BENELUX

The picture above illustrates the first observation on the Benelux.

distribution within Europe

From Scandinavia to the Pyrenees, Alps, and Poland (Fauna Europaea, 2008); also Slovenia (Maček, 1999a).

larva

Mandibles with 2 alternating teeth; front spiraculum bifid, with ca. 12 papillae; rear spiraculum with 16-18 papillae (de Meijere, 1937a).

synonyms

Phytomyza nigrociliata Sasakawa, 1961.

notes

Also Beri (1971e) published a description of the larva. However, the hostplant he mentions, Aster asperulus, makes it clear that his identification is incorrect.

references

Ahr (1966a), Beiger (1955a, 1960a, 1965a), Beri (1971e), Buhr (1932a, 1941b, 1964a), Dreger & Myssura (2005a), Haase (1942a), Hering (1931f, 1955b, 1957a), Huber (1969a), Maček (1999a), de Meijere (1937a), Michna (1975a), Pakalniškis (2004a), Sasakawa (1961a), Skala & Zavřel (1945a), Sønderup (1949a), Spencer (1976a), Stammer (2016a), Starke (1942a), Starý (1930a), von Tschirnhaus (1999a).