Chromatomyia scolopendri

Description

The larvae of the fly Chromatomyia scolopendri mine the leaves of the ferns: Hart's-tongue, Wall-rue and Polypody. They form long, narrow mines (up to 10cms) which often follow a vein. The mines are normally greenish and upper surface. Pupation is usually in the mine.

See the National Agromyzidae Recording Scheme webpage for this species for further details of puparium and adult insect.

Similar Species

Phytoliriomyza hilarella and Phytoliriomyza pteridii

ref.: Warrington, B.P. (2023).  Chromatomyia scolopendri. Accessed at https://agromyzidae.co.uk/species/agromyzidae/phytomyzinae/chromatomyia… on 13/12/2023).

Identification difficulty

Leafmine Adult  

Recording advice

Adult: Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required and the specimen should be examined with a microscope. In the comments box, state the key or ID method used and describe the size and identifying characters. 

Leafmine: Photographs required showing the leafmine and also state the host species.

Habitat

Host plants: Hart's-tongue, Wall-rue and Polypody

When to see it

Click on the 'further details' link in the 'Description' section above.  Then click on the Phenology tab which will provide phenology details for both adult and larval stages.

The larval leafmines can be found in most months of the year.

UK Status

Local in Britain. Most records seem to be from Wales and the south-west of England.

Warrington, B. P. 2022. A provisional review of the status of Agromyzidae in Great Britain & Northern Ireland

VC55 Status

Local in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Species group:
Flies
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Diptera
Family:
Agromyzidae
Records on NatureSpot:
7
First record:
07/08/2021 (Smith, Peter)
Last record:
23/10/2023 (Bell, Melinda)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

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