Stem miner (Diptera: Agromyzidae) in Lobelia

Record Details

Record no.:	0314
Feeding guild:	Stem miner
Taxonomy:	Diptera: Agromyzidae: Ophiomyia sp.
Stages observed:	trace, puparium, adult
Distribution observed:	IA
Hosts in Lobelia:	L. inflata (Indian tobacco)

The puparium of this stem miner is formed under the stem epidermis, with the anterior spiracles projecting. The stem may show a yellowish or light greenish discoloration where it has been mined by a larva. In one of the examples shown in the photos I took, the larva's frass takes the form of irregular splotches deposited sporadically in the mine. I reared a male adult from an overwintered puparium in spring 2023.

In addition to the photos below, a stem mine can be seen in one of the photos of the host plant shown for plant identification purposes on the Minnesota Wildflowers website at https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/indian-tobacco#lboxg-7.

Featured Images

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Image #: 314-09 An affected plant, with arrow indicating mined area of stem. (Photo date: September 29, 2024)

Image #: 314-12 Puparium under stem epidermis. (Photo date: September 29, 2024)

Image #: 314-01 Puparium in stem. (Photo date: November 12, 2022)

Image #: 314-03 Puparium, with covering of stem epidermis partly removed.

Image #: 314-04 Anterior spiracles of puparium projecting through stem epidermis.

Image #: 314-05 Posterior spiracles of puparium.

Image #: 314-06 Mined area of stem, showing sporadically deposited lumps of frass.

Image #: 314-08 Adult, reared in spring from overwintered puparium.

Specimen Data for Images

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Coll. 11/12/22, photos of mine and puparium same day (01-07), adult em. 03/27/23, photos of adult on 03/30/23 (08); field photos of an affected plant taken on 09/29/24 (09-13).

Page created: November 29, 2023. Last update: March 20, 2026