Botanophila gnava (Meigen, 1826)
lettuce fly
on Lactuca
cephalic skeleton of 3rd instar larva (from Dušek)
parasite
A single egg is deposited in a flower head; the larva feeds on the developing achenes. Univoltine, pupation and hibernation in the soil.
host plants
Asteraceae, monophagous
Lactuca sativa, serriola, virosa.
distribution within Europe
egg, larva, puparium
all stages are described and illustrated by Dušek.
synonyms
Chortophila, Phorbia, gnava.
references
Dušek (1970a), Langenbuch (1940a).