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

 

Phytomyza smyrnii Spencer, 1954
[Diptera: Agromyzidae]

? British


Phytomyza smyrnii Spencer, 1954c. Entomologist's mon. Mag. 90: 217-8
Phytomyza smyrnii Spencer, 1954c; Spencer, 1972b. Handbk ident. Br. Ins. 10(5g): 108
Phytomyza smyrnii Spencer, 1954. Handbk ident. Br. Ins. 10(5g)c: 108
Phytomyza smyrnii Spencer, 1954; Spencer, 1990. Host specialization in the World Agromyzidae (Diptera): 159, 166 (figs 608-9), 167.



Leaf-miner: Mine linear throughout, running first for a very short length on the lower surface, then remaining on the upper surface. A narrow early section is deeper than the rest; frass in black grains or lumps in two irregular rows, later one. Pupation external, exit slit through lower surface (Spencer, 1972b: 108).

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).

Comments: Empty linear mines of a Phytomyza sp. on Smyrnium olusatrum were recorded from Rosslare, Co. Wexford, Ireland. These do not entirely agree with those of P. smyrnii, described from Portugal and their identity remains in doubt until adults can be reared (Spencer, 1972b).

Hosts in Great Britain and Ireland:

Apiaceae        

? Smyrnium

olusatrum Alexanders British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Spencer, 1972b

Hosts elsewhere:

Apiaceae        
Smyrnium       Spencer, 1990: 159
Smyrnium olusatrum Alexanders British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bladmineerders van Europa

Time of year - mines: Currently unknown.

Time of year - adults: Currently unknown.

Distribution in Great Britain and Ireland: Currently unknown.

Distribution elsewhere: Portugal (Spencer, 1990; Fauna Europaea).

NBN Atlas links to known host species:

Smyrnium

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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