Melanagromyza angeliciphaga

Family

Subfamily

Genus

Species

Melanagromyza angeliciphaga Spencer, 1969

Mine

N/A. An internal stem-borer. Feeding within the stem, often several larvae per stem, especially in Angelica. Pupariation internal, often near a node.

Host Plants

• Angelica
• Heracleum
• Pastinaca

Confusion Species

Melanagromyza limata, Melanagromyza sativae, Napomyza carotae.

Recording Grade

4

National Status

Nationally Scarce A.

Puparium

Straw-coloured, posterior spiracles black, strongly chitinized, adjoining, each having an ellipse of 13-20 bulbs around the strong central horn. Length from 3.8 in male to 5.2mm in female.

Adult

Head: Frons 2.0-2.4x as wide as eye, orbits strongly projecting above eye in profile, with 2 strong ors, 3 (rarely 4) strong ori. Orbital setulae in 2-3 rows, mostly proclinate, sometimes several may be reclinate. Eye in male with slight pubescence. Gena slightly deeper in centre below eye, 0.20-0.25x as high as eye. Cheek forming a distinct ring below eye. Orbits wide; lunule semi-circular, sometimes with a slight central furrow. Ocellar triangle reaching to level of lower ors, sometimes to upper ori. Third antennal segment small, rounded with short pubescence, not longer than the basal section of the arista.
Mesonotum: 2 strong dc; acr in 8-10 rows, reducing to 4-5 at level of first dc. 1 or 2 dorsolateral scutellar setulae close to the lateral scutellar setae may be present, an observation also made by von Tschirnhaus; out of 371♂ and 345♀ reared specimens, 50♂ and 50♀ were selected for examination, 3♂ and 6♀ possess one setula close to a lateral scutellar (Michael von Tschirnhaus pers. comm.).
Wing: Hyaline, all veins brown. Ultimate section of vein M₄ 0.70 (average) that of the penultimate. Costal sections (2-4) with an average ratio of 100:25:23. Length 2.6-2.8 mm in male, 3.4-3.7 mm in female.
Colour: Frons matt black. Orbits matt adjoining eye, slightly shining adjoining frons, ocellar triangle weakly shining. Lunule slightly paler than frons. Gena brownish-black, palpi black. Mesonotum shining, metallic green, coppery, abdomen distinctly more so (particularly in female). Calypter greyish-white, margin usually pale orange although may frequently be darker, brown, fringe whitish. Legs dark, brownish-black with 2 strong posterolateral setae on mid tibia.
Male genitalia: Surstylus possessing several long setae and spines on inner surface; basiphallus U-shaped, conspicuous gap between basiphallus and distiphallus; basal bladder of mesophallus relatively straight; distiphallus with distinct area of strong spiculae when viewed from above; distal tubule relatively short and weak.
Female genitalia: Egg guide acute apically, long, narrow, 12-13x as long as maximum width, medial membrane with numerous sensilla between inner and outer margin, absent in nearest tip.

Additional information

Ciarán Byrne collected puparia from Angelica stems, Wexford, Ireland on 1.iv.2024 which subsequently produced several adults. Males were dissected and the phallus confirmed the determination. This is the first record for Ireland.

17 August 2024