Stem borer (Diptera: Agromyzidae) in Desmodium

Record Details

Record no.:	0192, 0194
Feeding guild:	Stem borer
Taxonomy:	Diptera: Agromyzidae: cf. Melanagromyza sp.
Stages observed:	trace, larva, puparium, adult
Hosts in Desmodium:	D. illinoense (Illinois tick-trefoil); undetermined prairie D. sp. (tick-trefoil)

Tunnels in stem of host; puparium formed internally. The morphology of the posterior spiracles of final-instar larva and puparium -- with their slender, almost needle-like horns and reddish spiracular plates positioned so close to each other that they may appear partly fused -- is unusual among internally pupating stem borer agromyzids I observed in the survey.

Featured Images

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Image #: 192-03 Larval tunnel in senescing stem of Desmodium sp. in autumn.

Image #: 192-01 Tunnel in dead stem in winter.

Image #: 192-02 Tunnel in dead stem in winter.

Image #: 192-07 Anterior end of larva from stem of Desmodium. (Photo date: September 20, 2022)

Image #: 192-08 Posterior end of larva from stem of Desmodium.

Image #: 192-05 Views of anterior end of larva, showing mouthhooks and anterior spiracles.

Image #: 192-06 Posterior spiracles of larva.

Image #: 192-09 Puparium overwintering in dead stem. (Photo date: April 11, 2023)

Image #: 192-10 Puparium overwintering in dead stem.

Image #: 192-13 Anterior spiracle of puparium.

Image #: 192-14 Anterior spiracle of puparium.

Image #: 192-15 Anterior spiracles of puparium, front view.

Image #: 192-16 Posterior end of puparium, showing spiracular horns.

Image #: 192-17 Posterior spiracles of puparium.

Image #: 192-18 Posterior spiracles of puparium, rear view.

Image #: 192-19 Inhabited overwintering stem of Desmodium, with outermost layer of stem tissue removed approximately 8mm above location of puparium in stem, revealing exit hole prepared by larva prior to pupation.

Image #: 192-20 Exit hole prepared for adult-to-be by larva prior to pupation.

Image #: 192-24 Posterior end of puparium, showing spiracular horns.

Image #: 192-25 Posterior spiracles of puparium.

Image #: 192-26 Posterior spiracles of puparium, rear view.

Image #: 192-27 Reared adult female, lateral. (Photo date: May 1, 2023)

Image #: 192-28 Reared adult female, dorsal.

Image #: 192-29 Abdomen of reared adult, dorsal.

Image #: 192-30 Abdomen of reared adult, lateral, showing faint bronze iridescence.

Specimen Data for Images

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Coll. 01/19/22, photos on 01/20/22 (01-02); coll. 09/20/22, photos same day (03-06); coll. 04/11/23, photos of puparia same day (09-26, 31), adult em. 04/30/23, photos of adult on 05/01/23 (27-30).

Page created: December 9, 2023. Last update: March 1, 2026