Agromyza prespana [Diptera: Agromyzidae] in Leaf and stem mines of British flies and other insects

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 prespana Spencer, 1957
[Diptera: Agromyzidae]

Agromyza prespana Spencer, 1957f. Entomologist's mon. Mag. 93: 35
Agromyza prespana Spencer, 1957f; Griffiths, 1963b. Tijdschr. Ent. 106: 146
Agromyza prespana Spencer, 1957f; Spencer, 1976. Fauna ent. Scand. 5(1): 136, figs 239, 240A-C.
Agromyza prespana Spencer, 1957f; Spencer, 1990. Host specialization in the world Agromyzidae (Diptera) : 356, 359.

Leaf-miner: Larva forms a broad mine beginning at the apex of the leaf (Spencer, 1976: 136).

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 described by Griffiths (1963). Mandibles with two teeth; anterior spiracles each with 11-14 bulbs; posterior spiracles have 3 characteristically bending bulbs (Spencer, 1976: 135-6, figs 240A and 240C).

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 (Spencer, 1976: 136).

Hosts in Great Britain and Ireland: Currently unknown.

Hosts elsewhere:

Poaceae
Triticum			Spencer, 1990: 356
Triticum	aestivum	Bread Wheat	Spencer, 1976: 136
Triticum	aestivum	Bread Wheat	Bladmineerders van Europa

Time of year - larvae: Currently unknown.

Time of year - adults: Currently unknown.

Distribution in Great Britain and Ireland: Added to British checklist by Deeming (1995). Glamorgan (NBN Atlas).

Distribution elsewhere: Described from Yugoslavia and widespread in continental Europe from Macedonia through Austria to north Germany including Sweden (Spencer, 1976: 136), Czech Republic, French mainland, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Yugoslavia (Fauna Europaea).

NBN Atlas links to known host species:

Triticum aestivum

British and Irish Parasitoids in Britain and elsewhere:

Ichneumonoidea - Links to species no longer available
Eurytenes abnormis (Wesmael, 1835)	Braconidae: Opiinae
Opius cingulatus 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	Find using Google Find using Google Scholar Find images using Google


	Last updated 08-Oct-2019 Brian Pitkin

6 Phalaris arundinacea Reed Canary-grass

Robbins, 1989: 19 Secale cereale Rye Spencer, 1972b: 124 Triticum aestivum Bread Wheat Spencer, 1972b: 125

Hosts elsewhere:

Poaceae
Apera	spica-venti	Loose Silky-bent	Spencer, 1976: 130
Apera	spica-venti	Loose Silky-bent	Bladmineerders van Europa
Arrhenatherum	elatius	False Oat-grass	Spencer, 1976: 130
Arrhenatherum	elatius	False Oat-grass	Bladmineerders van Europa
Avena			Bladmineerders van Europa
Avenula	versicolor		Bladmineerders van Europa
Dactylis	glomerata	Cock's-foot	Bladmineerders van Europa
Elymus	caninus	Bearded Couch	Spencer, 1976: 130
Elymus	caninus		Bladmineerders van Europa, as Roegneria
Elymus	repens	Common Couch	Bladmineerders van Europa
Elytrigia			Spencer, 1990: 356, as Agropyron
Hordeum			Spencer, 1990: 356
Hordeum	murinum	Wall Barley	Spencer, 1976: 130
Hordeum	murinum	Wall Barley	Bladmineerders van Europa
Phalaris	arundinacea	Reed Canary-grass	Bladmineerders van Europa
Secale			Spencer, 1990: 356
Secale	cereale	Rye	Spencer, 1976: 130
Secale	cereale	Rye	Bladmineerders van Europa
Triticum	aestivum	Bread Wheat	Spencer, 1976: 130
Triticum	aestivum	Bread Wheat	Spencer, 1990: 356
Triticum	aestivum	Bread Wheat	Bladmineerders van Europa

Time of year - mines: June (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Time of year - adults: June-July.

Distribution in Great Britain and Ireland: Widespread in Britain including London (Hampstead), Surrey (Colley Hill, Epsom and Kew), Cornwall (Carbis Bay) (Spencer, 1972: 33), Midlothian (Morningside and Braiud Burn), Fife (Aberdour), Haddington (Aberlady), Dunbartonshire (Bonhill) (Bland, 1994c: 81), Warwickshire (Hartshill) (Robbins, 1991: 136), Cambridgeshire, Easterness, Elgin, Glamorgan, North Somerset, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, South-west Yorkshire, Surrey, West Norfolk and West Sussex (NBN Atlas).

Distribution elsewhere: Widespread in continental Europe including Denmark and Sweden (Spencer, 1976: 130), Belgium (Bladmineerders van Europa), Germany (Spencer, 1976: 546), Austria, Belarus, Czech Republic, Estonia, French mainland, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Spanish mainland and Switzerland (Fauna Europaea).

Also recorded in the East Palaearctic (Fauna Europaea).

NBN Atlas links to known host species:

Apera spica-venti, Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Elymus caninus, Elymus repens, Hordeum murinum, Phalaris arundinacea, Secale cereale, Triticum aestivum

British and Irish Parasitoids in Britain and elsewhere:

Ichneumonoidea - Links to species no longer available
Chorebus eros (Nixon, 1937)	Braconidae: Alysiinae
Chorebus thisbe (Nixon, 1937)	Braconidae: Alysiinae


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


	Last updated 10-Oct-2019 Brian Pitkin