Aulagromyza luteoscutellata (de Meijere)

Eiseman, Charles S., Lonsdale, Owen, Linden, John Van Der, Feldman, Tracy S. & Palmer, Michael W., 2021, Thirteen new species of Agromyzidae (Diptera) from the United States, with new host and distribution records for 32 additional species, Zootaxa 4931 (1), pp. 1-68 : 20-21

Aulagromyza luteoscutellata (de Meijere)

Material examined. MASSACHUSETTS: Nantucket Co., Nantucket, Dead Horse Valley , 6.xi.2017, em. 26– 30.iv.2018, C.S. Eiseman, ex Lonicera morrowii , # CSE4440 , CNC1135691–1135692 (1♁ 1♀) .

Hosts. Caprifoliaceae : [ Lonicera canadensis J.Bartram & W.Bartram ex Marshall ], L. morrowii A.Gray , L. tatarica L., [ Symphoricarpos albus (L.) S.F.Blake] ( Eiseman & Lonsdale 2018).

Leaf mine. Widening, linear, sometimes becoming contorted; filled centrally with diffuse green frass. In some cases the egg is inserted near the leaf margin and the larva at first follows the margin toward the apex, but mines are frequently formed away from the leaf margin.

Puparium. Yellow to yellowish-brown; formed outside the mine.

Phenology and voltinism. Previous North American records of this species have documented larvae feeding in May and June in New York and Massachusetts ( Eiseman & Lonsdale 2018; Scheffer & Lonsdale 2018), and early July in Ontario ( Spencer 1969), with adults emerging within a month in each case. Spencer & Steyskal (1986) gave a date of 13 September for specimens reared in Wisconsin, but it is unclear whether this was the collection or emergence date. Our new specimens from Massachusetts were collected as larvae in early November, overwintered as pupae, and emerged as adults about a month after removal from refrigeration.

Distribution. USA: MA, [MN], NY, WI; Canada: AB?, ON, QC; Europe ( Eiseman & Lonsdale 2018).

Comments. Although the new specimens do not represent a new host or distribution record, the presence of larvae actively feeding in early November is noteworthy. Agromyza pseudoreptans (discussed above) is the only other agromyzid we can recall actively mining leaves in New England as late as November.

The only hosts of Aulagromyza luteoscutellata confirmed by rearing in North America are invasive honeysuckles ( Lonicera spp.) introduced from the Palearctic. Further rearing from native Caprifoliaceae will be needed to clarify the host ranges and leaf mine characteristics of Aulagromyza known or suspected to feed on these plants, which include seven described species and two undescribed (known only from females).