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Agromyza similis Brischke, 1880. Schr. naturf. Ges. Danzig 5: 258
Phytagromyza centaureana Hering, 1925b. Zeitschrift für Morphologie und Ökologie der Tiere. [A] 4: 522
Agromyza similis Brischke, 1880; Hendel, 1932. Fliegen palaearkt. Reg. 6(2): 291
Paraphytomyza similis (Brischke, 1880); Spencer, 1972b. Handbk ident. Br. Ins. 10(5g): 65
Paraphytomyza similis (Brischke, 1880); Spencer, 1976. Fauna ent. Scand. 5(1): 322-3, figs 582-3.
Paraphytomyza similis (Brischke, 1880); Spencer, 1990. Host specialization in the world Agromyzidae (Diptera) : 243 (fig. 917), 244.
Aulagromyza similis (Brischke, 1880)

Leaf-miner: A long, whitish linear-blotch mine, frequently associated with the mid-rib (Spencer, 1976: 321 (fig. 583), 323).

Unusually long (up to 16 cm), upper-surface, whitish corridor. Often the corridor crosses itself so repeatedly that a secondary blotch develops. Sometimes a few small grains of frass in the initial part of the mine. Otherwise the mine is either completely free from frass, or a few big lumps are deposited at the very end of the corridor. Pupation outside the mine (Bladmineerders van Europa).

The mine is illustrated in the Encyclopedia of Life.

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 larvae lie on their sides within the mine and use their pick-like mouthparts to feed on plant tissue.

Posterior spiraclesd with c. 30 bulbs (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; posterior spiracles on large conical projections, each with up to 24 irregular bulbs extending upwards (Spencer, 1976: 323). The puparium is illustrated in the Encyclopedia of Life.

Hosts in Great Britain and Ireland:

Dipsacaceae
Knautia				Robbins, 1991: 108
Knautia	arvensis	Field Scabious		Mines in BMNH
Knautia	arvensis	Field Scabious		Spencer, 1972b: 116
? Succisa	pratensis	? Devil's-bit Scabious		Mines in BMNH
? Succisa	pratensis	? Devil's-bit Scabious		Spencer, 1972b: 116

Host plants elsewhere:

Asteraceae
Centaurea	atropurpurea			Bladmineerders van Europa
Centaurea	jacea	Brown Knapweed		Bladmineerders van Europa
Centaurea	phrygia subsp. pseudophrygia			Bladmineerders van Europa
Centaurea	stenolepis			Bladmineerders van Europa
Dipsacaceae
Knautia				Spencer, 1976: 323
Knautia				Spencer, 1990: 244
Knautia	arvensis	Field Scabious		Bladmineerders van Europa
Knautia	dipsacifolia			Bladmineerders van Europa
Knautia	drymeia			Bladmineerders van Europa
Knautia	midzorensis			Bladmineerders van Europa
Scabiosa	columbaria	Small Scabious		Bladmineerders van Europa
Succisa				Spencer, 1990: 244
Succisa	pratensis	Devil's-bit Scabious		Spencer, 1976: 323
Succisa	pratensis	Devil's-bit Scabious		Bladmineerders van Europa

Time of year - mines: June-August.

Time of year - adults: Currently unknown.

Distribution in Great Britain and Ireland: Widespread in southern Britain including Surrey (Box Hill and Coulsdon), Gloucester. (Kilcot), Denbighshire (Cefn-y-bedd) (Spencer, 1972b: 65); Warwickshire (Harbury) (Robbins, 1991: 108); North Somerset and Surrey (NBN Atlas).

Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland: Co. Clare (Spencer, 1972b: 65).

Distribution elsewhere: Widespread in much of Europe including Finland, Norway, Sweden, probably Denmark (Spencer, 1976: 322-3), Germany (Spencer, 1976: 566), Austria, Belarus, Czech Republic, French mainland, Hungary, Italian mainland, Lithuania, Poland and Romania (Fauna Europaea).

NBN Atlas links to known host species:

British and Irish Parasitoids in Britain and elsewhere: Currently unknown.