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(Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera)
by
Brian Pitkin, Willem Ellis, Colin Plant and Rob Edmunds
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AJUGA.
Bugles. [Lamiaceae]
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Four
species of Ajuga are recorded in Britain. These include the
native Ground-pine (A. chamaepitys (L.) Schreb.), Pyramidal
Bugle (A. pyramidalis L.) and Bugle (A. reptans L.). The BSBI provide a downloadable plant crib for Ajuga.
Ground
pine is protected under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside
Act, 1981.
Pyramidal
Bugle is protected in Northern Ireland under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife
(Northern Ireland) Order, 1985.
Ten British miners are recorded on Ajuga.
A key to the European miners recorded on Ajuga is provided in Bladmineerders van Europa. |
 Bugle
Ajuga reptans
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Key for the identification of the known mines of British
Diptera recorded on Ajuga
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Note: Diptera larvae may live in a corridor mine, a corridor-blotch mine, or a blotch mine, but never in a case, a rolled or folded leaf, a tentiform mine or sandwiched between two more or less circular leaf sections in later instars. Pupation never in a cocoon. All mining Diptera larvae 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 larvae lie on their sides within the mine and use their pick-like mouthparts to feed on plant tissue. In some corridor miners frass may lie in two rows on alternate sides of the mine. In order to vacate the mine the fully grown larva cuts an exit slit, which is usually semi-circular (see Liriomyza huidobrensis video). The pupa is 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).
See Key to non-Diptera.
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1a > Leaf-miner: The
mine begins as a long, quite narrow corridor, usually not far from
the tip of a leaf segment. Usually this corridor follows the leaf
margin for some distance, but it may also run freely through the
blade and may then be stongly contorted. In the end the corridor
is directed towards the midrib, where an elongated blotch is formed,
overlying the midrib and some of the larger lateral veins. Frass
in a nearly continuous line in the initial corridor, in scattered
lumps in the later part of the mine. Primary and secondary feeding
lines very conspicuous when seen in transparancy. Pupation outside
the mine.
The mine starts as a very narrow corridor, usually close to the tip of a leaf segment and following the leaf margin. The later section of the corridor approaches the main vein, where an elongated blotch is made with long broad finger like extensions that lay over the secondary veins. In the initial corridor the frass forms an almost continuous line, in the blotch it is distributed in large scattered lumps. In fresh mines the secondary feeding lines are clearly visible. |
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On
numerous genera of Asteraceae, including Ajuga in Britain, and elsewhere. Throughout the British Isles, more
common in the south than the north. Also continental Europe.
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Trypeta
zoe Meigen, 1826 [Diptera: Tephritidae]. |
1b > Leaf-miner:
An
initially linear mine, which at second instar develops into a large
whitish blotch with conspicuous black frass. The early linear mine
is frequently entirely enveloped by the blotch but is detectable
by the alternate irregular strips of frass. Pupation external (Spencer,
1976: 158).
The
first part of the mine consists of a long, slender upper-surface
corridor. After the first moult this changes into a large primary
blotch without feeding lines. Frass in the corridor in short, somewhat
angular thread fragments, towards the end even in grains. Frass
arranged less closely along the sides than in A.
lamii. Pupation outside the mine.
The frass is conspicuous in the mine and the mine is initially linear, then develops into a white blotch, often enveloping this early mine. |
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On Ajuga, Ballota, Glechoma, Lamium, Marrubium and Stachys in
Britain and additional Lamiaceae elsewhere. In southern England
and continental Europe.
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Amauromyza
morionella (Zetterstedt, 1848) [Diptera: Agromyzidae]. |
1c > Leaf-miner: A
linear-blotch mine, first instar mine is linear, later developing
into a conspicuous white blotch. Frass greenish diffused (Spencer, 1972b: 46, 47 (fig. 138); Spencer,
1976: 166).
The
mine begins with a long, upper-surface, slender corridor. After
a moult the larva changes its behaviour, and makes a large, upper-surface
primary blotch without apparent feeding lines. Often the blotch
overruns more or less the initial corridor. Frass in the corridor
liquified to form a wide green band, with a few tiny black granules
along the sides. Pupation outside the mine.
A narrow gallery leading to a largish blotch on the upper surface. Frass is green and indistinct in the gallery - small grains may be seen at the gallery edge. |
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Amauromyza labiatarum puparium
Image: © Willem Ellis (Bladmineerders van Europa) |
On
numerous genera of Lamiaceae, including Ajuga, in Britain and elsewhere. Widespread
and locally common in south of England. Also recorded in the Republic
of Ireland and widespread and frequently common in continental Europe.
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Amauromyza
labiatarum (Hendel, 1920) [Diptera: Agromyzidae]. |
1d > Leaf-miner: Initially
a long, slim corridor, the frass alternating on either the side
of the corridor. After moulting, the larva broadens the mine and
the frass is less regular. Pupation external. |

Mine
of Amauromyza lamii on Stachys sylvatica
Image: © Willem Ellis (Bladmineerders van Europa) |
Hosts
in Britain unknown. The record on Glechoma from Warwick
(Kingsbury Wood) (Robbins,
1991: 103) is considered unlikely to be correct (Henshaw in Chandler, 1998). On Ajuga,
Ballota, Galeopsis, Glechoma, Lamiastrum, Lamium, Leonurus, Marrubium,
Mellitis, Mentha, Scutellaria and Stachys elsewhere.
Widespread in continental Europe.
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Amauromyza
lamii (Kaltenbach, 1858) [Diptera: Agromyzidae]. |
1e > Leaf-miner: A short, irregular, linear upper surface mine on any part of the
leaf. Also recorded from young pods (Bland, 1997a).
Long
corridor mine. As a rule the first part of the mine is lower-surface,
the later part upper-surface. Often the loops are so dense that
a secondary blotch is the result. Because upper- and lower-surface
corridor segments often cross, the mine obtains a strange array
of transparant patches. There is no association with the midrib.
Frass in strings and thread fragments. Pupation outside the mine;
exit slit in upper epidermis.
Mine not associated with the veins or midrib of the leaf (It is this character which enables distinction from another Agromyzid pest species - Liriomyza huidobriensis). The larvae may leave one leaf (if not large enough) and enter another leaf, via the petiole). It exits the leaf to pupate through a semi-circular slit in the upper surface of the leaf. |
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Polyphagous. On 119 plant genera in 31 plant families worldwide, but not yet on Ajuga, in Britain. On Ajuga elewhere. Local, probably introduced
to Britain. Widespread in continental Europe particularly in Botanical
Gardens and glasshouses. Also recorded in Egypt.
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Liriomyza bryoniae (Kaltenbach, 1858) [Diptera: Agromyzidae]. |
1f > Leaf-miner: A distinctive mine primarily above mid-rib, with irregular short
lateral offshoots into leaf blade. Pupation external (Spencer, 1972:
51 (fig. 172), 55; Spencer, 1976:
270, 271 (fig. 486)).
Branched,
whitish, upper-surface corridor; main axis overlying the midrib;
side branches overlying the main lateral veins. (In Campanula and Phyteuma the mine is much less branched, sometimes nothing
more than a corridor on top of the midrib). Frass in rather long
strings. Usually the mines begins as a long and narrow, shallow,
tortuous lower-surface corridor that ends upon the midrib but otherwise
is not associated with the leaf venation. Often this initial corridor
is filled with callus, and then even less conspicuous. Pupation
outside the mine.
A
linear mine on the upper surface, usually following the midrib and
showing side branches along the veins. The frass is in strings. |
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Liriomyza strigata larva, lateral
Image: © Willem Ellis (Bladmineerders van Europa)
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Polyphagous. On more than 40 host genera in 15 families worldwide, but not yet on Ajuga, in Britain. On Ajuga elsewhere. Widespread throughout Britain. Also
recorded in the Republic of Ireland. Widespread in continental
Europe.
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Liriomyza
strigata (Meigen, 1830) [Diptera: Agromyzidae]. |
1h > Leaf-miner: Mine linear, whitish, both upper and lower surface. Pupation internal,
at the end of the mine with the anterior spiracles projecting through
the epidermis (Spencer, 1976:
433).
Upper-surface,
less often lower-surface corridor. Frass in isolated grains. Pupation
within the mine, usually in a lower-surface puparial chamber.
A long whitish upper surface corridor, which eventually goes lower surface. |
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Two
highly polyphagous species of Chromatomyia, with indistinguishable
mines, have been recorded in Britain. These are syngenesiae (Hardy) and horticola (Goureau) which can only be distinguished by the male genitalia. Both species are widespread in Britain and elsewhere, although syngenesiae is almost entirely restricted to Asteraceae. Records on Asteraceae not based on examination of male genitalia are treated in this account as Chromatomyia 'atricornis'.
Chromatomyia horticola is recorded on 160 plant genera in 31 families of which 55 plant
genera in 19 families, but not yet on Ajuga, in Britain. On Ajuga elsewhere.
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Chromatomyia
horticola (Goureau, 1851) [Diptera: Agromyzidae]. |
Key for the identification of the known mines of British
non-Diptera recorded on
Ajuga
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Note: The larvae of mining Coleoptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera may live in a corridor mine, a corridor-blotch mine, a blotch mine, a case, a rolled or folded leaf, a tentiform mine or sandwiched between two more or less circular leaf sections in later instars. Larva may pupate in a silk cocoon. The larva may have six legs (although they may be reduced or absent), a head capsule and chewing mouthparts with opposable mandibles (see video of a gracillarid larva feeding). Larvae of Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera usually also have abdominal legs (see examples). Frass, if present, never in two rows. Unless feeding externally from within a case the larva usually vacates the mine by chewing an exit hole. Pupa with visible head appendages, wings and legs which lie in sheaths (see examples).
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1a > Leaf-miner: Rather
long corridor winding through the leaf, regularly crossing itself.
The corridor later widenes considerably. Frass normally in a narrow
central line, but may also lie along the side, or be absent. The
larva regularly leaves a mine and restarts elsewhere. |
On Lamiastrum galeobdolon and Lamium album, but not yet on Ajuga,
in Britain plus Ajuga reptans, Clinopodium vulgare, Lamium,
Prunella, Stachys, Teucrium, Plantago major, Veronica, chamaedrys
and Veronica longifolia elsewhere. Widespread in Britain and
continental Europe.
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Apteropeda
globosa (Illiger, 1794) [Coleoptera:
Chrysomelidae]. |
1b > Leaf-miner: Rather
long full depth corridor that winds freely through the leaf and
may cross itself. In the end the corridor widens considerably. Frass
mostly in a narrow central line, but may also be deposited along
the sides or be missing. The larvae regular leave a mine to restart
elsewhere. Pupation outside the mine. Neither larva or mine can
be distinguished from that of related species. |
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Polyphagous. On numerous genera and species in several plant families, including Ajuga in Britain. On numerous genera and species in several plant families, including Ajuga
genevensis and Ajuga reptans, elsewhere. Widespread
in Britain and continental Europe.
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Apteropeda
orbiculata (Marsham, 1802) [Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae]. |
1c > Leaf-miner: The
mine begins in the midrib, especially in a lower leaf, extending
into the leaf disc, branching irregularly or pinnately, may also
locally be blotch like. The mine is brown and very transparent.
Sides very irregularly eaten out. Frass loosely dispersed or in
a loose central line, buy may also be pressed against the sides
of the corridor. The larva may also leave the mine and restart elsewhere. |
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Orthochaetes
setiger larva, dorsal
Image: © Jean-Yves Baugnée (Bladmineerders van Europa) |
Polyphagous. On numerous genera and species in several plant families, including Ajuga, in Britain and elsewhere. Widespread in England
and continental Europe. Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland.
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Orthochaetes
setiger (Beck, 1817) [Coleoptera: Curculionidae]. |
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