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Introduction Background Taxon Pages Lucid Key Web Resources Bibliography Acknowledgement
Family Agromyzidae Genus Liriomyza Other genera Collecting specimens Preparation of genitalia Molecular diagnostics

Genus Liriomyza

Adult flies of the genus Liriomyza have the following morphological characters (EPPO 2005; Spencer 1987):

  • small flies, 1-3 mm in length
  • fronto-orbital setulae reclinate (backward pointing)
  • usually with a dark pre-scutellar area concolorous with the scutum, rarely yellow
  • scutellum yellow in most species, rarely dark
  • costa extends to vein M1+2
  • discal cell (dm) small
  • second (outer) crossvein (dm-cu) present in most species
  • stridulating organ present in males (a “scraper”, a chitinized ridge on the hind femora, and a “file”, a line of low chitinized scales on the connecting membrane between the abdominal tergites and sternites).

Of the 376 species currently recognised in the genus Liriomyza (EPPO 2005), only 16 species occur in Australia (Elliott 2006) with an additional species, Liriomyza pusilla (as compositella), in Lord Howe Island (Spencer 1977).

Morphological differences between many closely related species of Liriomyza are slight, but the minor colour differences which are detectable, are remarkably constant. However, a positive identification of many such species is only possible from examination of the male genitalia (Spencer 1972).

 

References
Elliott MG (2006). Diptera: Cyclorrhapha: (Acalyptrata: Part): Agromyzidae. Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra. Viewed 22 January 2008. http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/online-resources/fauna/afd/index.html  direct link to Agromyzidae checklist

EPPO (2005). Liriomyza spp. EPPO Bulletin 35: 335-344.

Spencer KA (1972). Diptera, Agromyzidae. Royal Entomological Society of London Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects 10, Part 5(g): 1-136.

Spencer KA (1977). A revision of the Australian Agromyzidae (Diptera). Special  Publication. Western Australian Museum 8: 1-255.

Spencer KA (1987). Agromyzidae. In Manual of Nearctic Diptera, 2. Monograph no. 28. (eds McAlpine JF, Peterson BV, Shewell GE, Teskey HJ, Vockeroth JR & Wood DM), pp. 869-879. Research Branch Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, Canada.

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