Stem-borer:
Larva at first feeds upwards in the previous year's wood and later
turns to feed downwards sometimes penetrating the root. Pupation
in the ground (Spencer, 1976:
154).
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 larval mouth-parts have one strong and one smaller tooth and
a strongly chitinised area behind, the lower arm of the cephalo-pharyngeal
skeleton is conspicuously short (Spencer,
1976: 153, 154 (fig. 279)). The posterior spiracular processes
are closely adjoiningg, each with three minute pores and there is
a single pointed protuberance above the anus (Spencer,
1976: 154 (fig. 280)).
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).
Reddish-brown (Spencer, 1976:
154).
Hosts in Great Britain and Ireland:
Hosts
elsewhere:
Time
of year - larvae: Oviposition normally takes place in young
twigs at the end of May or early June; feeding continues until late
August or September (Spencer,
1976: 154).
Time
of year - adults: Currently unknown.
Distribution
in Great Britain and Ireland: Hertfordshire (Felden), Cambridge (Kirtling),
Cornwall (Truro) and Dunbartonshire (Bonhill) (Spencer, 1972b: 44). Distribution elsewhere: Widespread in continental Europe including Austria, Denmark, Norway (Spencer,
1976: 153), Belgium, Hungary, Poland, Spanish mainland and The
Netherlands (Fauna Europaea).
NBN Atlas links to known host species:
British and Irish Parasitoids in Britain and elsewhere:
|