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Leaf-miner: A long narrow upper surface mine. Pupation external (Spencer, 1972b: 70 (fig. 227), 73; Spencer, 1976: 525, 526 (fig. 920)).

Oviposition in the leaf lower surface. After a short initial corridor of a few mm length the larva makes an upper-surface corridor that mostly begins with a dense knot in the leaf tip. Frass in long pearl chains along the sides. In fresh material primary feeding lines are apparent. Pupation outside the mine; exit slit in the lower epidermis. The mine often causes the leaf to be malformed and wrinkled. Feeding punctures in the lower surface (Bladmineerders van Europa).

The larva forms a long narrow upper surface mine. Most mines start close to the leaf tip. The larva exits through a slit. Pupation is external (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 described by de Meijere (1926). 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).

Pale brown; posterior spiracles each with an ellipse of 10 bulbs (Spencer, 1976: 525). The puparium is illustrated in (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Phytomyza vitalbae puparium Image: © Willem Ellis (Bladmineerders van Europa)

Hosts in Great Britain and Ireland:

Ranunculaceae
Clematis				Robbins, 1991: 26
Clematis				British leafminers
Clematis	vitalba	Traveller's-joy		British leafminers
Clematis	vitalba	Traveller's-joy		Mines in BMNH
Clematis	vitalba	Traveller's-joy		Spencer, 1972b: 118

Hosts elsewhere:

Ranunculaceae
Clematis				Spencer, 1976: 525
Clematis				Spencer, 1990: 33
Clematis	alpina			Spencer, 1976: 525
Clematis	alpina			Bladmineerders van Europa
Clematis	flammula	Virgin's-bower		Bladmineerders van Europa
Clematis	heracleifolia			Bladmineerders van Europa
Clematis	pubescens			Spencer, 1990: 33
Clematis	recta			Bladmineerders van Europa
Clematis	vitalba	Traveller's-joy		Spencer, 1976: 525
Clematis	vitalba	Traveller's-joy		Bladmineerders van Europa

Time of year - mines: June-September.

Time of year - adults: Currently unknown.

Distribution in Great Britain and Ireland: Widespread in S.E. England, also in S. Wales, Glamorgan (Gower peninsula) (Spencer, 1972b: 73), Hampshire (Noar Hill, Selbourne), Hertfordshire (British leafminers), Warwickshire (Coventry) (Robbins, 1991: 26); Caernarvonshire, Cambridgeshire, East Gloucestershire, Glamorgan, Leicestershire, Merionethshire, North Essex, North Somerset, Shropshire, South-west Yorkshire, West Gloucestershire and West Kent (NBN Atlas).

Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland: Co. Cork (Glengariff), Dublin (Spencer, 1972b: 73) and National Biodiversity Data Centre Map).

Distribution elsewhere: Widespread in continental Europe including Belgium (de Bruyn and von Tschirnhaus, 1991), Denmark, Sweden (Spencer, 1976: 525), The Netherlands (Bladmineerders van Europa), Germany (Spencer, 1976: 582), Corsica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, French mainland, Hungary, Italian mainland, Poland, Romania, Spanish mainland, Switzerland and Yugoslavia (Fauna Europaea).

Also recorded in W. Australia (Spencer, 1990: 33).

NBN Atlas links to known host species:

British and Irish Parasitoids in Britain and elsewhere: