The leaf and stem mines of British flies and other insects
 

(Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera)

by Brian Pitkin, Willem Ellis, Colin Plant and Rob Edmunds

  

BLACKSTONIA. Yellow-wort. [Gentianaceae]

Yellow-wort (B. perfoliata) is the only species of Blackstonia recorded in Britain. The BSBI provide a downloadable plant crib for Blackstonia.

Two British miners are recorded on Blackstonia.

A key to the European miners recorded on Blackstonia is provided in Bladmineerders van Europa.

 Yellow-wort - Blackstonia perfoliata. Image: © Brian Pitkin
Yellow-wort
Blackstonia perfoliata

Key for the identification of the known mines of British
insects (Diptera and non-Diptera) recorded on Blackstonia

1a > Leaf-miner: Larvae feeding in stem-leaves. particularly those immediately below the flower; mine initially linear, later developing into irregular blotch. Pupation internal (Spencer, 1990: 396).

Initially a corridor, later an irregular blotch. Pupation within the mine; puparium whitish.

The initial mine is a gallery, it later makes a lower surface blotch mine.
Mine of Chromatomyia blackstoniae on Blackstoni perfoliata
Mine of Chromatomyia blackstoniae on Blackstoni perfoliata
Image: © Brian Pitkin

Only on Blackstonia perfoliata in Britain and elsewhere. Only recorded from Gloucester, Oxford and Surrey in Britain. Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland and northern France.

Chromatomyia blackstoniae Spencer, 1990 [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

1b > Leaf-miner: Full depth irregular blotch that may occupy an entire leaf. Frass in numerous, dispersed, brown grains. Some larvae remain in the mine until shortly before pupation, others leave the mine in an early stage and feed externally on the flower buds and developing fruits.
Mine of Stenoptilia zophodactylus on Gentiana sp. Image: © Willem Ellis (Bladmineerders en plantengallen van Europa)
Mine of Stenoptilia zophodactylus on Gentiana sp
Image: © Willem Ellis (Bladmineerders van Europa)

On Blackstonia, Centaurium and Gentiana in Britain and Blackstonia, Centaurium, Gentiana and Gentianella elsewhere. Widely distributed in southern Britain and continental Europe.

Stenoptilia zophodactylus (Duponchel, 1840) [Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae]

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