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DIMORPHOTHECA. Cape Rain-daisy and Namaqualand Daisy. [Asteraceae]

Two species of Dimorphotheca are recorded in Britain. Both are introduced.

Only one British miner is recorded on Dimorphotheca.

The agromyzid Napomyza lateralis feeds in the stems of Anthemis, Bidens, Calendula, Dimorphotheca, Matricaria, and Senecio in Britain, although it has also been found in the inflorescence of Matricaria.

Elsewhere the polyphagous agromyzids Liriomyza strigata and Liriomyza trifolii are recorded mining Dimorphotheca. See also Liriomyza species in Glasshouses and/or Quarantine Interceptions.

A key to the European miners recorded on Dimorphotheca is provided in Bladmineerders van Europa.

Key for the identification of the known mines of British
insects (Diptera and non-Diptera) recorded on Dimorphotheca

1 > Leaf-miner: A distinctive mine primarily above mid-rib, with irregular short lateral offshoots into leaf blade. Pupation external (Spencer, 1972: 51 (fig. 172), 55; Spencer, 1976: 270, 271 (fig. 486)).

Branched, whitish, upper-surface corridor; main axis overlying the midrib; side branches overlying the main lateral veins. (In Campanula and Phyteuma the mine is much less branched, sometimes nothing more than a corridor on top of the midrib). Frass in rather long strings. Usually the mines begins as a long and narrow, shallow, tortuous lower-surface corridor that ends upon the midrib but otherwise is not associated with the leaf venation. Often this initial corridor is filled with callus, and then even less conspicuous. Pupation outside the mine.

A linear mine on the upper surface, usually following the midrib and showing side branches along the veins. The frass is in strings.

Polyphagous. On more than 40 host genera in 15 families, but not yet on Dimorpheca, in Britain,. Widespread throughout Britain. Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland. Widespread in continental Europe.

Liriomyza strigata (Meigen, 1830) [Diptera: Agromyzidae].