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

 

Chromatomyia blackstoniae Spencer, 1990
[Diptera: Agromyzidae]

Phytomyza gentianae Hendel, 1920; Spencer, 1972. Handbk ident. Br. Ins. 10 (5g): 95 [in part, misidentification]
Phytomyza gentianae Hendel, 1920; Griffiths, 1968. Proc. R. Irish Acad. 67(B) 2: PAGE, [misidentification]
Chromatomyia blackstoniae
Spencer, 1990. Host specialization in the World Agromyzidae (Diptera) : 180, 181, 183, 396, 405
Phytomyza blackstoniae (Spencer, 1990); Winkler, Sonja, Scheffer and Mitter, 2009.


Leaf-miner: Larvae feeding in stem-leaves. particularly those immediately below the flower; mine initially linear, later developing into irregular blotch. Pupation internal (Spencer, 1990: 396).

Initially a corridor, later an irregular blotch. Pupation within the mine; puparium whitish (Bladmineerders van Europa).

The initial mine is a gallery, it later makes a lower surface blotch mine (British leafminers).

Mine of Chromatomyia blackstoniae on Blackstonia perfoliata
Mine of Chromatomyia blackstoniae on Blackstonia perfoliata
Image: © Brian Pitkin

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.

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).

Whitish (Spencer, 1990: 396).

Comments: Spencer (1972b: 95) recorded Chromatomyia gentianae (as Phytomyza) on Blackstonia perfoliata and Centaurium erythrae (as minus). However, he later (Spencer, 1990: 396-7) recognised that specimens on Blackstonia perfoliata and specimens on Centaurium erythrae represented two different new species, which he described as Chromatomyia blackstoniae and Chromatomyia centaurii respectively.

Hosts in Great Britain and Ireland:

Gentianaceae        
Blackstonia perfoliata Yellow-wort British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. British leafminers
Blackstonia perfoliata Yellow-wort British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Spencer, 1972b: 116

Hosts elsewhere:

Gentianaceae        
Blackstonia perfoliata Yellow-wort British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Spencer, 1990: 396
Blackstonia perfoliata Yellow-wort British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa

Time of year - mines: August (Spencer, 1990).

Time of year - adults: Currently unknown.

Distribution in Great Britain and Ireland: Gloucestershire (Kilcot) (Spencer, 1990: 396), Oxfordshire (Warburg Reserve) (British leafminers), Surrey (Boxill) (pers. observation). Buckinghamshire (NBN Atlas).

Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland: Co. Clare (Murrough) (Spencer, 1990: 396).

Distribution elsewhere: Northern France (Spencer, 1990: 396).

NBN Atlas links to known host species:

Blackstonia perfoliata

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



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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