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

 

Agromyza nigrescens Hendel, 1920
[Diptera: Agromyzidae]

Geranium leaf-miner


Agromyza nigrescens Hendel, 1920. Arch. Nautrgesch. 84A(7)(1918): 117
Agromyza heringi de Meijere, 1925. Tijdschr. Ent. 68: 220
Agromyza nigrescens Hendel, 1920; Hendel, 1931. Fliegen palaearkt. Reg. 6(2): 134
Agromyza nigrescens Hendel, 1920; Spencer, 1972b. Handbk ident. Br. Ins. 10(5g): 41, 116
Agromyza nigrescens Hendel, 1920; Spencer, 1976. Fauna ent. Scand. 5(1): 127-8, figs 114, 219-221.
Agromyza nigrescens Hendel, 1920; Spencer, 1990. Host specialization in the world Agromyzidae (Diptera) : 151 (figs 568-9), 152, 157, 178, 398.


Leaf-miner: An initially narrow linear mine which after the first moult widens into large linear or irregular blotch; frass in distinct rows in the early linear section, later more scattered (Spencer, 1976: 128-9, fig. 221).

The mine is described by Hering (1957a) as follows: Upper-surface mine. The start is corridor-like and generally follows the leaf margin. Further on the mine widens considerably, forms a secondary blotch and gets irregular sides that are deeply eaten out. Primary and secondary feeding lines clearly visible. Frass mostly in large clumps. Pupation outside the mine. The mine only rarely occurs in Geranium robertianum; the frass then is fine-grained and the mines are smaller. Hering didn't think it impossible the the miners of Geranium robertianum and the other Geranium species might be a different species. Dutch material might form a different third species (Bladmineerders van Europa).

The first instar larva makes an initial corridor, with frass in two lines. Then a large irregular blotch is formed (British leafminers).

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.

The larva is illustrated in 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).

Reddish-brown; posterior spiracles each with 3 bulbs (Spencer, 1976: 128). The puparium is illustrated in Bladmineerders van Europa.

Agromyza nigrescens puparium
Agromyza nigrescens puparium
Image: © Willem Ellis (Bladmineerders van Europa)

Hosts in Great Britain and Ireland:

Geraniaceae        
Geranium       Mines in BMNH
Geranium       British leafminers
Geranium       Spencer, 1972b: 116
Geranium robertianum Herb-Robert British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Robbins, 1991: 38

Hosts elsewhere:

Geraniaceae        
Erodium moschatum Musk Stork's-bill British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Geranium       Spencer, 1976: 128
Geranium       Spencer, 1990: 157
Geranium columbinum Long-stalked Crane's-bill British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Geranium molle Dove's-foot Crane's-bill British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Geranium nodosum Knotted Crane's-bill British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Geranium palustre     Bladmineerders van Europa
Geranium phaeum Dusky Crane's-bill British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Geranium pratense Meadow Crane's-bill British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Spencer, 1990: 152
Geranium pratense Meadow Crane's-bill British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Geranium purpureum Little-Robin   Bladmineerders van Europa
Geranium pusillum Small-flowered Crane's-bill British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Spencer, 1972b: 118
Trifolium repens White Clover British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bland, 1992
Trifolium repens White Clover British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bland, 1994

Hosts elsewhere:

Fabaceae        
Anthyllis       Bladmineerders van Europa
Anthyllis       Spencer, 1990: 112
Lotus ornithopodioides     Bladmineerders van Europa
Medicago       Spencer, 1990: 112
Medicago lupulina Black Medick British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Medicago minima Bur Medick   Bladmineerders van Europa
Medicago polymorpha Toothed Medick British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Medicago sativa Lucerne British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Medicago sativa Lucerne British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Spencer, 1976: 126
Medicago sativa subsp. falcata Sickle Medick British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Medicago trunculata Strong-spined Medick   Bladmineerders van Europa
Melilotus       Spencer, 1976: 126
Melilotus       Spencer, 1990: 112
Melilotus albus White Melilot British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Melilotus albus White Melilot British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Mines in BMNH
Melilotus altissimus Tall Melilot British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Melilotus messanensis     Bladmineerders van Europa
Melilotus officinalis Ribbed Melilot British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Onobrychis       Spencer, 1990: 112
Onobrychis viciifolia Sainfoin British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Securigera securidaca Hatchet Vetch   Bladmineerders van Europa
Trifolium       Spencer, 1976: 126
Trifolium       Spencer, 1990: 112
Trifolium alpestre     Bladmineerders van Europa
Trifolium fragiferum Strawberry Clover British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Trifolium hybridum Alsike Clover British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Trifolium incarnatum Crimson Clover British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Trifolium medium Zigzag Clover British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Trifolium montanum     Bladmineerders van Europa
Trifolium ochroleucon Sulphur Clover British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Trifolium pratense Red Clover British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Trifolium repens White Clover British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Trifolium stellatum Starry Clover   Bladmineerders van Europa
Trigonella       Bladmineerders van Europa
Trigonella       Spencer, 1990: 112
Vicia       Spencer, 1990: 112
Vicia cracca Tufted Vetch British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Vicia dumetorum     Bladmineerders van Europa
Vicia hirsuta Hairy Tare British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Vicia sativa Common Vetch British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa
Vicia sylvatica Wood Vetch British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa

Time of year - mines: Bivoltine: summer and early autumn (British leafminers).

Time of year - adults: Currently unknown.

Distribution in Great Britain and Ireland: Common and widely distributed in England, also recorded from Inverness (Nethy Bridge), Perth (Killin), Skye (nr Armadale) (Spencer, 1972b: 41), the Inner Hebrides (Isle of Coll) (Bland, 1992), Rum (Bland in Whiteley, 1994), Warwickshire (Robbins, 1991: 43), Anglesey, Caernarvonshire, Cambridgeshire, Cardiganshire, Carmarthenshire, Dorset, East Kent, East Norfolk, East Ross, East Suffolk, Elgin, Flintshire, Glamorgan, Leicestershire, Main Argyll, Merionethshire, Mid-west Yorkshire, Monmouthshire, Montgomeryshire, North Somerset, Nottinghamshire, Pembrokeshire, South Lancashire, South-west Yorkshire, Stafford and Surrey, West Lancashire and Westerness (NBN Atlas); and Huntingdon (British leafminers). Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland: Co. Clare, Co. Kerry and Co. Mayo (Spencer, 1972b: 41).

Distribution elsewhere: Widespread and common in continental Europe including Denmark, Finland, Norway (Spencer, 1976: 125), The Netherlands, Luxembourg (Bladmineerders van Europa), Belgium (Scheirs, de Bruyn and von Tschirnhaus, 1996), Germany (Spencer, 1976: 546), Canary Is., Czech Republic, Estonia, European Turkey, French mainland, Hungary, Italian mainland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Republic of Moldova, Poland, Romania, Sardinia, Sicily, Slovakia, Spanish mainland, Switzerland, Ukraine and Yugoslavia (Fauna Europaea).

Also recorded in north Africa and northern India (Spencer, 1976: 125).

NBN Atlas links to known host species:

Medicago lupulina, Medicago minima, Medicago sativa, Medicago sativa subsp. falcata, Medicago truncatula, Melilotus albus, Melilotus altissimus, Melilotus messanensis, Melilotus officinalis, Securigera securidaca, Trifolium fragiferum, Trifolium medium, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Trifolium stellatum, Vicia cracca, Vicia sativa

British and Irish Parasitoids in Britain and elsewhere:

Chalcidoidea  
Chrysocharis amyite (Walker, 1839) Eulophidae: Entedoninae
Chrysocharis idyia (Walker, 1839) Eulophidae: Entedoninae
Chrysocharis liriomyzae Delucchi, 1954 Eulophidae: Entedoninae
Chrysocharis orbicularis (Nees, 1834) Eulophidae: Entedoninae
Chrysocharis pentheus (Walker, 1839) Eulophidae: Entedoninae
Chrysocharis polyzo (Walker, 1839) Eulophidae: Entedoninae
Chrysocharis pubicornis (Zetterstedt, 1838) Eulophidae: Entedoninae
Closterocerus lanassa (Walker, 1839) Eulophidae: Entedoninae
Cirrospilus vittatus Walker, 1838 Eulophidae: Eulophinae
Diglyphus isaea (Walker, 1838) Eulophidae: Eulophinae
Pnigalio pectinicornis (Linnaeus, 1758) Eulophidae: Eulophinae
Miscogaster hortensis Walker, 1833 Pteromalidae: Miscogastrinae
Miscogaster maculata Walker, 1833 Pteromalidae: Miscogastrinae
Sphaeripalpus fuscipes (Walker, 1833) Pteromalidae: Miscogastrinae
Ichneumonoidea - Links to species no longer available  
Chorebus flavipes (Goureau, 1851) Braconidae: Alysiinae
Chorebus misellus (Marshall, 1895) Braconidae: Alysiinae
Coloneura stylata Förster, 1862 Braconidae: Alysiinae
Dacnusa maculipes Thomson, 1895 Braconidae: Alysiinae
Heterolexis balteata (Thomson, 1895) Braconidae: Alysiinae
Colastes braconius Haliday, 1833 Braconidae: Exothecinae
Eurytenes maculipes Wesmael, 1835 Braconidae: Opiinae


External links: Search the internet:
Biodiversity Heritage Library
Bladmineerders van Europa
British leafminers
Encyclopedia of Life
Fauna Europaea
NBN Atlas
NHM UK Checklist
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