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Agromyza varicornis Strobl, 1898b. Wiss. Mitt. Bosn. Herzeg. 7: 640 (as a var. of abiens Zetterstedt)
Agromyza watersi Spencer, 1957c. Commentat. biol. 16(4): 1
Agromyza varicornis Strobl, 1898b; Spencer, 1972b. Handbk ident. Br. Ins. 10(5g): 42, 117
Agromyza varicornis Strobl, 1898b; Spencer, 1990. Host specialization in the world Agromyzidae (Diptera) : 112, 127, 129 (fig 468).

Mine of Agromyza varicornis on Lathyrus latifolius Image: © Colin Plant (British leafminers)

Leaf-miner: A long white mine mainly in the winged stem, frequently starting in leaf (Spencer, 1972b: 42).

The mine begins as a narrow under-surface corridor. It usually quickly becomes upper-surface, and also the following blotch part of the mine is upper-surface. Here and there in the blotch the larvae also eats from the palisade parenchyma, giving the mine a mottled aspect when held against the light, but less strongly than in A. lathyri. Frass in the initial corridor, if at all visible, in short threads; very little frass in the blotch. Pupation outside the mine (Bladmineerders van Europa).

The mine is in the wing of the stem, but often starts in leaf (though not always) (British leafminers).

Larva: The larvae of flies are leg-less maggots without a head capsule (see examples). They never have thoracic or abdominal legs. They do not have chewing mouthparts, although they do have a characteristic cephalo-pharyngeal skeleton (see examples), usually visible internally through the body wall.

The larva is described Hering (1957). Posterior spiracles each with 3 bulbs (Spencer, 1972b: 42 and Bladmineerders van Europa).

Puparium: The puparia of flies are formed within the hardened last larval skin or puparium and as a result sheaths enclosing head appendages, wings and legs are not visible externally (see examples).

Posterior spiracles each with 3 bulbs (Spencer, 1972b: 42).

Hosts in Great Britain and Ireland:

Fabaceae
Lathyrus	latifolius	Broad-leaved Everlasting-pea		Robbins, 1991: 46
Lathyrus	latifolius	Broad-leaved Everlasting-pea		Spencer, 1972b: 117
Lathyrus	latifolius	Broad-leaved Everlasting-pea		British leafminers
Lathyrus	sylvestris	Narrow-leaved Everlasting-pea		Mines in BMNH
Lathyrus	sylvestris	Narrow-leaved Everlasting-pea		Spencer, 1972b: 117

Hosts elsewhere:

Fabaceae
Lathyrus				Spencer, 1990: 112
Lathyrus	latifolius	Broad-leaved Everlasting-pea		Bladmineerders van Europa
Lathyrus	sylvestris	Narrow-leaved Everlasting-pea		Bladmineerders van Europa

Time of year - mines: June, August.

Time of year - adults: Currently unknown.

Distribution in Great Britain and Ireland: Widespread in Britain including London (Hampstead), Isle of Wight (Luccombe), Cambridge (Cambridge), Denbighshire (Cefn-y-bedd) (Spencer, 1972b: 42) and Warwickshire (Coventry) (Robbins, 1991: 46). South Lancashire, Surrey, West Gloucestershire (NBN Atlas).

Distribution elsewhere: Widespread in continental Europe including Germany (Bladmineerders van Europa), Italian mainland, Lithuania, Spanish mainland and Yugoslavia (Fauna Europaea).

NBN Atlas links to known host species:

British and Irish Parasitoids in Britain and elsewhere: Currently unknown.