Leaf-miner: Leaf-mine normally short and broad (Spencer, 1976: 97). According to Hering (1957) initially the larva does not feed towards the apex of the leaf. Pupation external (Spencer, 1976: 97).

The shallow, whtish mine starts (not very close to the base of the lamina) as a fine ascending corridor. This is overrun when the direction alternates, and the mine quickly widens. The final mine is characteristically short; often not the full width of the leaf is used. Frass in big black grains, never greenish. Pupation outside the mine (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Larva: The larvae of flies 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.

Larval mandibles with three teeth; posterior spiracles each with 3 bulbs (Hering, 1953).

The mandible with two normal teeth, and a smaller additional basal one (Hering, 1953a). The girdles of fine spinulation along the anterior and posterior margins of the body segments normal, i.e., relatively narrow, nowhere fusing together (unlike in A. nigrociliata). Rear spiracula far apart, each with 3 bulbs. Behind the mandibles ventrally a median field with fine spines (character of the Agromyza ambigua group of Griffiths, 1963a).The larva is also illustrated by Beri (1971c), based on material from India, living on a Setaria species. However, he describes the left mandible as having 2, the right one 1 tooth, which makes it questionable if he had the European species in front of him (Bladmineerders van Europa)

Puparium: The puparia of flies are 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).

Yellowish-brown; posterior spiracles each with 3 bulbs, processes widely separated (Spencer, 1976: 97).

Hosts in Great Britain and Ireland:

Hosts elsewhere:

Poaceae
Avena				Spencer, 1990: 354
Avena	sativa	Oat		Spencer, 1976: 97
Avena	sativa	Oat		Bladmineerders van Europa
Elytrigia				Spencer, 1990: 356, as Agropyron
Hordeum				Spencer, 1990: 356
Hordeum	murinum	Wall Barley		Bladmineerders van Europa
Hordeum	vulgare	Six-rowed Barley		Spencer, 1976: 97
Hordeum	vulgare	Six-rowed Barley		Bladmineerders van Europa
Secale				Spencer, 1990: 356
Secale	cereale	Rye		Spencer, 1976: 97
Secale	cereale	Rye		Bladmineerders van Europa
Triticum				Spencer, 1990: 356
Triticum	aestivum	Bread Wheat		Spencer, 1976: 97
Triticum	aestivum	Bread Wheat		Bladmineerders van Europa

Time of year - mines: July.

Time of year - adults: Currently unknown.

Distribution in Great Britain and Ireland: Widespread, but local - Kent (Thames Marshes) (Spencer, 1972b: 33), Aberdour and Bonhill (Spencer, 1956) and Outer Hebrides (North Uist) (Bland, 1994b). Ayrshire (NBN Atlas)

Distribution elsewhere: Common and Widespread in continental Europe (Spencer, 1990) including The Netherlands (Bladmineerders van Europa), Denmark, Sweden, Finland (Spencer, 1976: 97), Germany (Spencer, 1976: 546) Canary Is., Czech Republic, Hungary, Italian mainland, Sicily, Slovakia, Spanish mainland, Switzerland and Yugoslavia (Fauna Europaea).

Also recorded in Canada and America (Spencer, 1969a: 35; Spencer, 1990).

NBN Atlas links to known host species:

British and Irish Parasitoids in Britain and elsewhere: