Agromyzidae

The family Agromyzidae is commonly referred to as the leaf-miner flies, for the feeding habit of larvae, some of which are leaf miners on various plants.

A worldwide family of approximately 2,500 species.The species are small some with wing length of 1 mm. The maximum size is 6.5 mm. Most species are in the range of 2 to 3 mm.

Adult agromyzids can be recognized by the distinctive sclerotization of the head. The upper part of the frons, above the ptilinal suture (known as the frontal vitta) is lightly sclerotized and lacks setae, while the lower part of the frons and the dorsal area of the head tends to be much more heavily sclerotized and setaceous. Thus the frontal vitta often forms a distinctive patch on the head, different in colour and texture to the rest of the head. The compound eyes are usually oval and fairly small although in some species they are larger and more circular.

The wings are usually hyaline although those of a few tropical species have darker markings. A few species, including all Agromyza spp, are capable of stridulation, possessing a "file" on the first abdominal segment and a "scraper" on the hind femur.

Agromyzidae larvae are phytophagous, feeding either as leaf miners,throughout the plant, or selectively in the root, stem, or flower head only. Many feed on fungi which infected the plant through the hole carved by the larva on entering a bulb. There is a high degree of host specificity.

A number of species attack plants of agricultural or ornamental value, and are therefore considered pests.

Larval mines of Phytomyza ilicis

Species Lists

Identification

Literature

Spencer, K.A. Agromyzidae (Diptera) of Economic importance Series Entomologica. Volume 9. Dr. W. Junk bv The Hague. D. Gld. 110.-. xii + 418 p.

Extract Google Books

Darvas, B., M. Skuhravá and A. Andersen, 2000. Agricultural dipteran pests of the palaearctic region. In: László Papp and Béla Darvas (eds), Contributions to a manual of palaearctic Diptera (with special reference to flies of economic importance), Volume 1. General and applied dipterology, Science Herald, Budapest: 565-650.
Frick, K.E., 1952. A generic revision of the family Agromyzidae (Diptera) with a catalogue of New World species. University of California Publications in Entomology 8: 339-452. Berkeley and Los Angeles.
Spencer, K.A., 1987. Agromyzidae. In: J.F. McAlpine, B.V. Peterson, G.E. Shewell, H.J. Teskey, J.R. Vockeroth and D.M. Wood (eds): Manual of Nearctic Diptera 2. (Researach Branch Agriculture Canada, Monograph 28); Minister of Supply and Services Canada: 869-879.
Braun, M.R., Almeida-Neto, M., Loyola, R.D., Prado, A.P. & Lewinsohn, T.M. "New Host-Plant Records for Neotropical Agromyzids (Diptera: Agromyzidae) from Asteraceae Flower Heads"