Phytomyza flexuosa Spencer

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 : 36

Phytomyza flexuosa Spencer

Material examined. IOWA: Winneshiek Co., Beard Farm , 27.v.2018, em. spring 2018, J. van der Linden, ex Ranunculus abortivus , # CSE4646 , CNC1144044–1144046 (1♁ 2♀) .

Host. * Ranunculaceae : Ranunculus abortivus L.

Leaf mine. A blotch formed at the apex of a leaf lobe.

Puparium. Formed outside the mine.

Phenology and voltinism. Our specimens were collected as larvae on 27 May and emerged as adults within a few weeks. The holotype was collected as an adult on 27 August ( Spencer & Steyskal 1986).

Distribution. USA: *IA, WA ( Spencer & Steyskal 1986).

Comments. This species was described from a single specimen caught while sweeping Erigeron canadensis , but its host was presumed to be in Ranunculaceae due to the close similarity of the genitalia to those of Phytomyza davisii (Walton) . The latter species also feeds on Ranunculus abortivus , forming blotch mines and pupating externally (Eiseman & Lonsdale 2019).