Stem miner (Diptera: Agromyzidae) in Mitella

Record Details

Record no.:	0332
Feeding guild:	Stem miner
Taxonomy:	Diptera: Agromyzidae: Ophiomyia sp.
Stages observed:	trace, puparium, adult
Distribution observed:	IA
Hosts in Mitella:	M. diphylla (miterwort)

I found puparia of this agromyzid in dead stems of the host during the dormant season. The location of the puparium just under the epidermis of the stem suggests that the larva feeds shallowly as a subepidermal stem miner and does not penetrate into deeper tissues. I reared a single female adult in spring 2022. The insect appears to belong to the genus Ophiomyia.

Featured Images

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Image #: 332-02 Puparium just under epidermis of dead stem. (Photo date: March 16, 2022)

Image #: 332-01 Puparium under epidermis of dead stem - lateral view.

Image #: 332-03 Puparium under epidermis, with protruding anterior spiracles indicated by the arrow.

Image #: 332-04 Rear view of puparium in stem, with anterior spiracles protruding through the epidermis.

Image #: 332-05 Reared adult. (Photo date: April 1, 2022)

Specimen Data for Images

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Coll. as puparium 03/16/22 and photographed same day, adult em. 03/31/22 and photographed on 04/01/22 (01-07).

Page created: November 7, 2023. Last update: March 20, 2026