Calycomyza malvae (Burgess, 1880)
IMPORTANT CHARACTERS (after Spencer and Steyskal, 1986)
Adults
Wing length: 1.6 - 2 mm; last section of vein M 3+4 is 2.5 times long as penultimate. Frontorbits mainly black until about the upper frontorbital bristles. Mesonotum moderately shining black; legs entirely black; squama with dark margin.
Male terminalia
Mesophallus short, distiphallus with pointed lateral extension at each side (Cal malvae genitalia.pct).
BIONOMICS
Leaf miner, producing serpentine mines mainly on the upper surface. Pupation occurs in the soil.
HOST PLANTS
Known from several genera of the plant family Malvaceae: Abutilon, Althaea, Malva, Malvastrum, Sida Spencer and Steyskal, 1986. Of these, especially Althaea rosea could be of some importance, since the plant is frequently used as ornamental (Spencer, 1973).
More host plants were mentioned in Spencer and Stegmaier, 1973.
Souza, 1986 reported the species feeding on beans (Phaseolus vulgaris). However, since there are some other species being very similar to malvae this interesting record should be handled with care and need further confirmation.
DISTRIBUTION
Canada, USA, also Brazil (Souza, 1986).
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
Probably the species is of minor importance even if some of the malvacean host plants are cultivated as ornamentals. If the record of Souza, 1986 could be confirmed, malvae should be taken more seriously as potential pest on beans.