Cephalomyza flavifrons

Family

Subfamily

Genus

Subgenus

Species

Cephalomyza flavifrons (Meigen, 1830)

Mine

A short linear mine is formed, then a white blotch mine, the linear section sometimes not detectable as it becomes enveloped in later blotch. The blotch contains very little frass, a few small black grains. Puparation external.

Host Plants

• Agrostemma
• Beta
• Cerastium
• Cucubalus
• Dianthus
• Gypsophila
• Lychnis
• Moehringia
• Myosoton
• Saponaria
• Silene
• Spinacia
• Stellaria
• Vaccaria

Confusion Species

Pegomya flavifrons [Anthomyiidae] can form very similar mines and care should be taken to separate the two species. In Pegomya, small white egg cases can be found at the start of the mine on the lower surface of the leaf, these are not present in Amauromyza (Cephalomyza) flavifrons. However, Pegomya larva can leave a mine and start feeding elsewhere, meaning that leaf will not possess any egg cases.

Recording Grade

2

National Status

Common.

Puparium

Reddish brown; posterior spiracles each with 3 bulbs.

Adult

Small species with yellow frons and halteres and entirely black legs.
Head: frons not significantly projecting above eye; 2 ors, 3-4 ori; orbital setulae sparse, reclinate; jowls deepest in centre below eye, 1/6 height of eye, cheeks forming narrow ring below eye; third antennal segment small, rounded, arista finely pubescent.
Mesonotum: 3+1 dc, pre-sutural only slightly weaker than third.
Wing: 1.9-2.7 mm; costa extending to vein M₁₊₂, discal cell small, last section of M₃₊₄ up to 3.5x length of penultimate.
Colour: frons, lunule and jowls yellow; first and second antennal segments yellowish, third largely black but sometimes at least slightly paler on inside; palps black; mesonotum deep black, moderately shining, pleura largely black but upper margin of mesopleura and wing base bright yellow; legs black, only fore-knees at most slightly yellowish; abdomen entirely black, squamae yellowish-grey, margin and fringe black, halteres bright yellow.