Family AGROMYZIDAE Fallén, 1823

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Introduction

The Agromyzidae are a family of Acalyptrate Diptera found in all zoogeographic regions of the world. The family comprises approximately 2500 species worldwide (Spencer 1989), and this catalogue records 151 species from Australia. In a series of publications, Spencer (1963, 1977, 1986, 1989) has described and catalogued the Australian fauna, and this catalogue follows his work.

Agromyzidae are phytophagous, the larvae feeding exclusively on the internal tissue of plants. The majority of known species feed on plants of the family Asteraceae, however plants of a number other families such as Caryophyllaceae and Chenopodiaceae are also used as food sources. Host specificity is common, with only a small number of species worldwide having a broad host range. Surprisingly, only a single species of Australian Agromyzidae (Japanagromyza eucalypti Spencer, 1963) attacks Eucalyptus, and a large portion of the endemic Australian flora remains untouched by the Agromyzidae (Spencer 1977).

Several agromyzid species are important economically (Spencer 1973), as serious pests of vegetable crops, and as biocontrol agents.

The adult female inserts the eggs beneath the epidermis of the plant, where the larva hatch and begin feeding, forming channels or mines in the tissue. The form of the mines is species specific and can often be used to aid in identification. Although primarily known as leaf miners, species of Agromyzidae also attack the seeds, flower heads, stems, twigs and the roots (Spencer 1987, 1989). Pupation is characteristic of species: it can take from 5 days to 10 months, and normally occurs on the ground.

General References

Spencer, K.A. 1963. The Australian Agromyzidae (Diptera, Insecta). Records of the Australian Museum 25(15): 305-354

Spencer, K.A. 1973. Agromyzidae (Diptera) of Economic Importance. The Hague : W. Junk v + 418 pp.

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

Spencer, K.A. 1986. A new genus of Agromyzidae (Diptera) from Australia and Papua New Guinea. Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 122: 249-252

Spencer, K.A. 1987. Agromyzidae. In, McAlpine, J.F., Peterson, B.V., Shewell, G.E., Teskey, H.J. & Vockeroth, J.R. (eds.). Manual of Nearctic Diptera. Volume 2. Research Branch Agriculture Canada Monograph Vol. No. 28 pp. vi + 675-1332.

Spencer, K.A. 1989. 71. Family Agromyzidae. pp. 538-547 in Evenhuis, N.L. (ed.). Catalog of the Diptera of the Australasian and Oceanian Regions. Honolulu and Leiden : Bishop Museum Press and E.J. Brill 1155 pp.

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