Phytomyza antennariae Bland, 2011

Diptera, Agromyzidae

mine

Oviposition at the base of one of the older leaves. From here several upper-surface galleries radiate towards the leaf margin; their bases fuse, creating as end result a palmate secondary blotch. The upper epidermis somewhat contracts, causing the leaf margins to curl upwards, somewhat conceiling the mine. Via the leaf basis the larva moves to another leaf; six leaves on average are mined out. The frass is concentrated as a black mass in the basal port of the mine. Pupation within the mine, generally near the base of the leaf, invariably in one of the smaller, youngest central leaves of the rosette.

hostplants

Asteraceae, monophagous

Antennaria dioica.

phenology

Occupied mines were found from May till mid-June; un-emerged puparia in June; one generation.

distribution within Europe

Scotland, Northern Ireland, possibly Baltic States (see below).

larva

not described.

pupa

Elongate oval, pale yellowish cream, c. 1.3 mm, segment limits shallow. Rear spiracula with 8-9 papillae on bases that are separated by 4-5 times their height.

synonyms

Earlier recorded and depicted by Bland (1999b) as Ophyiomyia gnaphalii. The mines of the two species are quite similar, like also the rear spiracula of the puparium.

notes

Plants growing amongst Calluna vulgaris are preferred.

references

Bland (1999b, 2011a).

03/11/2011