Amauromyza Hendel, 1931
Small genus with only about 30 species (Spencer, 1976 b). Several authors recognized some subgenera, which are not mentioned here because no reasonable differences could be found. The same did Spencer, 1990.
The ejaculatory apodeme with enlarged, bowl-shaped base (Sasakawa, 1961, Spencer, 1976 b, Spencer, 1990) (Am flavifrons genitalia.pct) can be considered as apomorphy. Likewise, the shape of the epandrium and surstyli are similar throughout the genus: Epandrium long, from lateral view apically tapering, surstyli not articulated and located distinctly below the tip of epandrium. Bacilliform sclerites are usually elongated.
Body usually black with white or sometimes black halteres but also yellowish species occur. Aedeagus normally with two clearly separated terminal tubules.
Immature stages
Immature stages with clearly asymmetrical mandibles. Posterior spiracles with three apical bulbs. In leaf-mining species the posterior bulb is elongated as in Liriomyza whereas the stem miners known to the author have three bulbs of equal size.
The morphology of the immature instars differs in these two groups significantly. Cephalopharyngeal skeletons of Amauromyza-leaf-miners of similar shape as other leaf miners. In contrast Amauromyza stem miners possess, similar as in other genera, strikingly enlarged mouth hooks, often only one mouth hook present on each mandible.
Bionomics
The larvae cause either blotch mines on leaves or live as internal stem miners (borers). The bionomics of the latter group is poorly known (cf von Tschirnhaus, 1981).
Economic importance
Only one species is known as potentially serious pest.