Phytomyza spondylii/pastinacae agg.

The larvae of Phytomyza spondylii and Phytomyza pastinacae produce identical conspicuous, whitish linear mines on the leaves of their larval food plants, especially Hogweed. The mines cannot be reliably separated to species level and for this reason we have created this page which treats them as an aggregate. It is necessary to rear through the adult and subject it to detailed examination in order to identify it to species level.  If this has not taken place you should add your records to this aggregate page.

Adult Leafmine (if recorded to aggregate level - cannot be identified to species level with certainty from the leaf mine.)

Around larval food plants, especially Hogweed.

Mines can be seen from May to November.

Larva exits the mine through the lower surface and falls from the leaf on pupation.

Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain.

Status in Leicestershire and Rutland not known.