Melanagromyza tripolii

Family

Subfamily

Genus

Species

Melanagromyza tripolii Hering, 1957

Mine

N/A. An internal stem-borer of Aster tripolium, pupariation also internal. Usually only one larva per stem.

Host Plants

• Aster

Confusion Species

Napomyza tripolii.

Recording Grade

4

National Status

Nationally Scarce A.

Puparium

Orangey-brown, posterior spiracles separated by own diameter (or slightly more), each with 14-19 well defined bulbs around the small central horn. Length from 2.6mm in male to 4.0mm in female.

Adult

Head: Frons 1.8-2.1x as wide as eye, orbits strongly projecting above eye in profile, less so at level of lunule, with 2 strong ors, 2-4 ori. Orbital setulae in 2-3 rows, long, numerous, entirely proclinate (one or two may be erect). Eye with distinct pubescence near upper margin in male, almost bare in female. Gena slightly deeper in centre below eye, 0.20-0.25x as high as eye. Cheek 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, 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. No setulae detected on or at the side of the scutellum.
Wing: Normal, hyaline, all veins brown. Ultimate section of vein M₄ 0.82 (average) that of the penultimate. Costal sections (2-4) with an average ratio of 100:28:28. Length 1.9-2.5 mm in male, 2.8-3.1 mm in female.
Colour: Frons and orbits matt, orbits lighter than frons. Ocellar triangle weakly shining. Lunule slightly lighter than frons. Gena brownish-black with palpi black. Mesonotum shining, black, distinctly metallic, coppery, abdomen similar, more greenish in female. Calypter whitish-grey, margin and fringe almost concolorous, pale, whitish. Legs brownish-black with 2 (rarely 3) posterolateral setae on mid tibia.
Male genitalia: Surstylus possessing a few long setae and several spines on inner surface; basiphallus U-shaped; basal bladder of mesophallus with very slight upward curvature; distiphallus dark, with distinct areas of strong spiculae when viewed from above; distal tubule relatively short.
Female genitalia: Egg guide acute and slightly angled apically, 5.5x as long as maximum width, medial membrane with numerous strong sensilla in basal half, from inner to outer margin, not reaching apical third.