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

  

EUPHRASIA. Eyebrights. [Scrophulariaceae]

Twenty-one species of Euphrasia are recorded in Britain. All except one are native. The BSBI provide a downloadable plant crib for Euphrasia.

Only one British miner is recorded on Euphrasia.

The agromyzid Phytomyza affinis is recorded in Co. Clare and elsewhere feeding in the seeds of Euphrasia.

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

 Common Eybright - Euphrasia nemorosa. Image: © Brian Pitkin
Common Eybright
Euphrasia nemorosa

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

1 > Leaf-miner: Oviposition takes place in an upper leaf and a short mine is formed either in the leaf or stem, but the larva feeds primarily in the stem. Pupating in the stem (Spencer, 1976: 487 (fig. 857), 488).

Short and narrow corridor in the leaves, bracts or even calyx, ending in a thick vein. From there the larva descends as a borer. Infested plants largely die off. Pupation and hibernation within the mine.

On Odontites, but not yet on Euphrasia, in Britain and Euphrasia, Melampyrum, Odontites and Rhinanthus elsewhere. Distribution in Britain unknown. Widespread in continental Europe. Also recorded in Canada.

Phytomyza rostrata Hering, 1934 [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

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