Cheilosia caerulescens (Meigen, 1822)

on Sempervivum

Hoofddorp, 21.vii.2020 © Laurens van der Linde: ovipositing female

Sempervivum tectorum, Belgium, prov. Antwerp, Mol, 12.x.2018 © Carina Van SteenwinkelL general aspect of the infestation

detail

large mined out lead

mined leaf in back light

larva, penetrating a fresh leaf

Sempervivum arachnoideum, Belgium, prov. Antwerp, Mol, 12.x.2018 © Carina Van Steenwinkel

the outer leaves of the rosette are fully mined out

mine

An egg is deposited in the centre of the rosette. The larva makes untidy, winding and crossing corridors. When a leaf that has been eaten out it is left through an opening, and a new one is entered. Up to five leaves can be mined out in this way; they turn brown and shrivel. Pupation is outside the mine, in the ground.

host plants

Crassulaceae, monophagous

Sempervivum arachnoideum, montanum, tectorum.

These species are quite popular in rock gardens.

d’Aguilar & Coutin noemen daarnaast nog Geum montanum, Solidago virgaurea en Tussilago farfara; een bron wordt daarbij niet vermeld.

phenology

Larvae in two generations, in June and August (d’Aguilar & Coutin, 1988a). Hibernation as pupa in the ground.

BENELUX

BE recorded (Verlinden, 1991a).

NE known from the country since 1987 (van Aartsen, 1993a; van der Goot 1989a); since then at several localities all over the country (Reemer, 1999a).

LUX not recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2007).

distribution within Europe

From Poland to the Iberian Peninsula, and from the Netherlands to Italy and Serbia (Fauna Europaea, 2007); UK (Collins & Halstead).

larva

See Stuke (2000a).

references

van Aartsen (1993a), d’Aguilar & Coutin (1988a), Collins & Halstead (2008a), van der Goot (1989a), Reemer (1999a), Reemer, Renema, van Steenis ao (2009a), Speight (2017a), van Steenis & Barendregt (2002a), Stuke (2000a), Verlinden (1991a).