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

  

PEDICULARIS. Louseworts. [Scrophulariaceae]

Two species of Pedicularis are recorded in Britain - Marsh Lousewort (P. palustris) and Lousewort (P. sylvatica). Both are native species. The BSBI provide a downloadable plant crib for Pedicularis sylvatica subsp. hibernica.

Two British miners are recorded on Pedicularis.

The agromyzid Phytomyza tenella is recorded feeding in the seed heads of Pedicularis in Britain and elsewhere.

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

Lousewort - Pedicularis sylvatica. Image: © Linda Pitkin
Lousewort
Pedicularis sylvatica

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

1a > Leaf-miner: Upper-surface blotch. Puparium formed within the mine, brown..

On Pedicularis palustris and Pedicularis sylvatica in Britain and elsewhere. Recorded as new to Britain and Scandinavia and new to Scotland. Europe including Germany, Norwegian mainland and Sweden.

Phytomyza pedicularifolii Hering, 1960 [Diptera: Agromyzidae].

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.

Polyphagous. On numerous genera and species in several plant families, but not yet on Pedicularis in Britain. On numerous genera and species in several plant families, including Pedicularis elsewhere. Widespread in Britain and continental Europe.

Apteropeda orbiculata (Marsham, 1802) [Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae].

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