Melanagromyza oligophaga

Family

Subfamily

Genus

Species

Melanagromyza oligophaga Spencer, 1990

Mine

N/A. An internal stem-borer. Feeding within the stem, where pupariation also occurs.

Host Plants

• Achillea
• Artemisia
• Centaurea
• Crepis
• Erigeron
• Hieracium
• Hypochaeris
• Picris
• Senecio

Confusion Species

Melanagromyza dettmeri, Melanagromyza eupatorii, Melanagromyza pubescens. For puparia in Centaurea, adults must be reared as a recently newly described species (Melanagromyza stemivora) was discovered in Centaurea stems in Ukraine.

Recording Grade

4

National Status

pRDB 1.

Puparium

Greyish-white, posterior spiracles pale, adjoining, each with a strong central spine, surrounded by an ellipse of 10-15 distinctly pale bulbs. Length from 2.7mm in male to 4.0mm in female.

Adult

Head: Frons 1.5-1.8x as wide as eye, orbits only slightly projecting above eye in profile (more so at level of ors), with 2 strong ors, usually 2 well-spaced ori (as in M. aeneoventris but less so), frequently a third ori is present. Orbital setulae numerous, in 2-3 rows, both proclinate and reclinate. Eye pubescent in male, female less so. Gena slightly deeper in centre below eye, 0.16-0.25x as high as eye. Cheek barely forming a distinct ring below eye. Orbits relatively broad; lunule broad, semi-circular, sometimes with a slight central furrow. Ocellar triangle normal, reaching to lower ors. 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 3-5 at level of first dc. No setulae detected on or at the side of the scutellum.
Wing: Normal, hyaline, all veins dark brown. Ultimate section of vein M₄ 0.66 (average) that of the penultimate. Costal sections (2-4) with an average ratio of 100:25:25. Length 2.6-2.9 mm in male, 3.1-3.3 mm in female.
Colour: Frons matt, black. Orbits shining adjoining frons, matt adjoining eye, ocellar triangle shining. Lunule slightly lighter than frons. Gena brownish with palpi black. Mesonotum weakly shining, black with slight coppery hue, abdomen slightly more metallic and shining. Calypter greyish, margin pale brown, fringe pale, whitish. Legs dark, brownish-black with 2 posterolateral setae on mid tibia.
Male genitalia: Surstylus sometimes with a few long setae but with several spines on inner surface; basiphallus U-shaped; basal bladder of mesophallus with slight upward curvature; distiphallus with distinct areas of strong spiculae when viewed from above; distal tubule relatively strong and stout.
Female genitalia: Egg guide acute apically, 5.0-6.0x as long as maximum width, medial membrane with numerous sensilla centrally, overlapping outer margin in basal half.