Pegomya meridiana (Villeneuve, 1923)

on st. john’s wort

Pegomya meridiana: malformed flower bud of Hypericum perforatum

Hypericum perforatum, Belgium, prov. Antwerp, Balen, Griesbroek, 30.vi.2019 © Carina Van Steenwinkel: misvormde bloemknop

Pegomya meridiana: larva

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

(PESI, 2019).

references

Michelsen (2009a), Michelsen & Baez (1985a).