Stem miner (Diptera: Agromyzidae) in Blephilia

I found intact puparia of this miner in late July and early August, under the stem epidermis at the ends of externally visible mines, mostly in middle to upper stems. I also located puparia on overwintering dead stems of the host in February. The dead stem of one host plant individual had four lateral branches in its infructescence, and each of these four lateral stems contained a single overwintering puparium under the epidermis.

The larva's frass is commonly deposited in isolated large black lumps, which can even be discerned on the dead stems in winter. The final lump appears to be often deposited right before pupation, as I observed multiple puparia with such lumps positioned directly behind them in their mines, within less than 10mm of the puparium. These frass deposition patterns were similar to those observed in Ophiomyia stem mines on Monarda fistulosa (record 0687) and Verbena urticifolia (0595) in the current study.

The anterior spiracles of the puparium project through the stem epidermis.

I have not yet managed to rear adults.