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(Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera)
by
Brian Pitkin, Willem Ellis, Colin Plant and Rob Edmunds
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AQUILEGIA.
Columbine. [Ranunculaceae]
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Columbine
(A. vulgaris) is the only native species of Aquilegia
in Britain, although Pyrenean Columbine (A. pyrenaica) and
other species have been introduced.
Four British miners are recorded on Aquilegia.
A key to the European miners recorded on Aquilegia is provided in Bladmineerders van Europa.
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 Columbine
Aquilegia vulgaris
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Key for the identification of the known mines of British
insects (Diptera and non-Diptera) recorded on Aquilegia
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1a > Stem-miner: Larva forms an external stem mine, with widely spaced
grains of black frass. Pupation takes place at the end of the mine.
Puparium black |
On Aquilegia and Thalictrum in Britain and elsewhere.
Only from Hunts and Cambridge in Britain. Also in Germany,
Sweden and Estonia.
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Ophiomyia
aquilegiana Lundquist [Diptera: Agromyzidae]. |
1b > Leaf-miner |
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2a > Leaf-miner: Larva
forming short, irregular white linear mine, with frass in conspicuous
black strips. Pupation external, normally adhering to the leaf near
the end of the mine until dislodged by rain or wind (Spencer, 1972b: 83 (fig. 269B; Spencer,
1976: 381 (figs 663B), 450).
A
pale green, upper-surface, fairly broad, waving corridor; relatively
short, up to 7 cm. Frass at first in grains, later in short thread
fragments or pearl strings, at either side of the corridor. Often
several mines in a leaf. Pupation outside the mine, exit slit in
lower epidermis.
A relatively broad, short upper surface gallery. Frass in conspicuous black stripes. |
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On Aquilegia and Thalictrum in Britain and elsewhere.
Common and widespread throughout the Britain, particularly in
gardens. Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland. Widespread
in much of Europe. Also recorded in the western U.S.A., the Himalayas
and northern India.
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Phytomyza
minuscula Goureau, 1851 [Diptera: Agromyzidae]. |
2b > Leaf-miner: A large primary blotch, sometimes several larvae feeding
together with frass scattered irregularly throughout the mine; leaves
often being largely destroyed and the plants suffering considerable
damage. Puparium dull brown.
Striking,
large, somewhat inflated, upper-surface, often purple-brown blotch
without a preceding corridor. The mine is unusual because locally
also the spongy mesophyl is eaten away, making the mine locally
full depth and giving it a mottled appearance (right picture below).
The mine begins in the centre of the leaf, or the base of a leaf
segment (Griffiths, 1956b). The very first part of the mine differs
in colour and structure; probably it is made by the larvae before
its first ecdysis. Frass in very fine grains scattered over the
floor of the mine. Pupation outside the mine. Exit slit in upper
epidermis (Pakalniskis, 2004a). |
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On Aquilegia and Thalictrum in Britain and elsewhere.
Common in southern Britain particularly in gardens. Also recorded
in the Republic of Ireland, Europe. Range extending eastwards
to the Kirghiz and Kazakh Republics of the [former] U.S.S.R.
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Phytomyza
aquilegiae Hardy, 1849 [Diptera: Agromyzidae]. |
2c > Leaf-miner: In the first instar the larva mines the leaves, forming short,
irregular, blotch-like mines, but in later instars it lives externally,
feeding in spun leaves and often twisting those of tender shoots. Larval head light-brown or yellowish brown, edged with black postero-laterally,
ocellar area blackish; prothoracic plate black edged with whitish
anteriorly; abdomen dull dark green; pinacula distinct, black,
sometimes brownish but with black bases to setae; anal plate large,
black (Bradley et al., 1973).
Small,
full depth mine without a definite shape; little frass. Some silk
is deposited in the mine. The larva soon leaves the mine and continues
feeding among spun leaves. |
Polyphagous. On numerous genera and species of plant families, but not yet
on Aquilegia, in Britain. On numerous genera
and species of plant families including Aquilegia elsewhere.
Widespread in Britain and continental Europe. Also recorded from
the Channel Is.
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Cnephasia
incertana (Treitschke, 1835) [Lepidoptera: Tortricidae]. |
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