Ophiomyia labiatarum [Diptera: Agromyzidae] in Leaf and stem mines of British flies and other insects

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

Ophiomyia labiatarum Hering, 1937
[Diptera: Agromyzidae]

Ophiomyia labiatarum Hering, 1937c. Blattminen Mittel- und NordEuropas Lief 5, 6: 509
Ophiomyia labiatarum Hering, 1937c; Spencer, 1964a. Beitr. Ent. 14: 793
Ophiomyia labiatarum Hering, 1937c; Spencer, 1972b. Handbk ident. Br. Ins. 10(5g): 26 (figs 60-1), 29, 116, 117
Ophiomyia labiatarum Hering, 1937c; Spencer, 1976. Fauna ent. Scand. 5(1): 67-8, figs 78-80
Ophiomyia labiatarum Hering, 1937c; Spencer, 1990. Host specialization in the World Agromyzidae (Diptera) : 204, 205.

Stem-mine: A shallow, inconspicuous external stem mine. Pupation in stem near a node (Spencer, 1972b: 29).

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.

Posterior spiracles each with 7 bulbs (Spencer, 1972b: 29).

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-grey. Posterior spiracles each with 7 bulbs (Spencer, 1976: 68).

Hosts in Great Britain and Ireland:

Lamiaceae

Clinopodium Robbins, 1991: 100

Clinopodium vulgare Wild Basil British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Robbins, 1989

Clinopodium vulgare Wild Basil British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Spencer 1972: 116

Galeopsis Robbins, 1991: 103

Galeopsis tetrahit Common Hemp-nettle British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Pitkin & Plant

Lamium album White Dead-nettle Robbins, 1991: 102

Lamium album White Dead-nettle Spencer, 1972b: 116

Lamium rubrum Spencer, 1972b: 116

Stachys Robbins, 1991: 101

Stachys palustris Marsh Woundwort British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Mines in BMNH

Stachys palustris Marsh Woundwort British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Spencer, 1972b: 117

Stachys sylvatica Hedge Woundwort British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Bland, 1994c: 81

Stachys sylvatica Hedge Woundwort British Wild Flowers by John Somerville et al. Spencer, 1972b: 117

Hosts elsewhere:

Lamiaceae

Calamintha Spencer, 1976: 68

Galeopsis Spencer, 1976: 68

Lamium Spencer, 1976: 68

Nepeta Spencer, 1990: 205

Prunella Spencer, 1990: 205

Satureja Spencer, 1990: 205

Stachys Spencer, 1976: 68

Time of year - mines: August-September.

Time of year - adults: May the following year.

Distribution in Great Britain and Ireland: Widespread in Britain including Surrey (Box Hill), Oxfordshire (Bagley Wood), Huntingdonshire (Woodditton Fen), Suffolk (Barton Mills) (Spencer, 1972b: 29), Perthshire (Falls of Fender and Keltneyburn) (Bland, 1994c: 81) and Warwickshire (Whateley Lane) (Robbins, 1991: 102); Cambridgeshire (NBN Atlas).

Distribution elsewhere: Widespread in continental Europe from England to Bulgaria, including Finland and Norway (Spencer, 1976: 68), Czech Republic, French mainland, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia (Fauna Europaea).

Also recorded from the East Palaearctic (Fauna Europaea) and Canada (Spencer, 1969a: 87) and the U.S.A. (Spencer, 1976: 68).

NBN Atlas links to known host species:

Clinopodium vulgare , Galeopsis tetrahit, Lamium album, Lamium rubrum, Stachys palustris, Stachys sylvatica

British and Irish Parasitoids in Britain and elsewhere:

Ichneumonoidea - Links to species no longer available

Chorebus fuscipennis (Nixon, 1937) Braconidae: Alysiinae

External links: Search the internet:

Biodiversity Heritage Library
Bladmineerders van Europa
British leafminers
Encyclopedia of Life
Fauna Europaea
NBN Atlas
NHM UK Checklist Find using Google
Find using Google Scholar
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