Food Plant: Urtica dioica (Common Nettle)

Mine: unknown

Notes: The larva feeds internally in the nettle stem and pupariates towards the stem base, being usually found within the first 15cms of this base. The puparium is yellow whilst developing and whitish once the adult has emerged. It has posterior spiracles with three irregular bulbs and without a central horn, which enables distinction with Melanagromyza aenea in the same host. There may be several larvae mining the same stem (3 puparia are shown in this stem). Univoltine with adults being found in March to May.

Data: 04.iv.2019, Kendal, Westmorland with Furness, VC69

Image:© Robert Homan

Recording Grade: 4

References:
Spencer, KA (1972) -Diptera, Agromyzidae; Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects, 10
Spencer, K A (1976) - The Agromyzidae of Fennoscandia and Denmark
Spencer, K A (1990), Host specialization in the World Agromyzidae (Diptera) :Handbk ident. Br. Ins