Pegomya meridiana (Villeneuve, 1923)
on st. john’s wort
Hypericum perforatum, Belgium, prov. Antwerp, Balen, Griesbroek, 30.vi.2019 © Carina Van Steenwinkel: misvormde bloemknop
opened flower with larva
parasite
The limited information about the biology is somewhat contradictory: Michelsen & Baez write that the larvae “attack the flowers”, Michelsen (2009a) states that the larva lives in the seed capsules. Partly because of this, the identification the illustrated material is a bit tentative. Pupation probably in the soil.
host plants
Hypericaceae, monophagous
Hypericum maculatum, perforatum.
distribution within Europe
references
Michelsen (2009a), Michelsen & Baez (1985a).