Phytomyza rhodiolae Griffiths, 1976
Diptera, Agromyzidae
mine
Long gallery that winds freely through the leaf, sometimes crossing itself and sometimes forming a secondary blotch (also because more than one mine may be present in a leaf). Frass in discrete grains. Mines mainly in the younger leaves. Pupation sometimes outside the mine, but often the puparium just protrudes from the exit slit (that may be either upper-surface or lower-surface); also some puparia are formed well within the mine.
hostplants
Crassulaceae, monophagous
Rhodiola rosea.
phenology
Larvae in June – July.
distribution within Europe
Scotland, Norway (Bland, 1995a).
larva
Mandibles with two teeth, alternating. Anterior spiracula bifid, with 12-15 papillae. Posterior spiracula each one a high conical base, deeply forked with two unusually long arns with, in total, 19-24 papillae.
puparium
Dark brown, shining, rear spiraculum forming a deep fork.
notes
In step with its hostplant a mountain species.
references
Bland (1995a), Griffiths (1976a).
22/07/2010