Chromatomyia milii

Chromatomyia milii (Kaltenbach, 1864)

Male genitalia and body coloration variable (Spencer, 1976 b), identification of imagines is therefore not easy.
Genitalia similar to Chromatomyia opacella Hendel, 1935 Chr opacella aedeagus Sp.pct.

IMPORTANT CHARACTERS
Adults
Wing length: 2 - 2.9 mm. Ocellar triangle broader than long, apically rounded, frontal ocellus larger than the hind ones. Arista with thickened basal section shorter than apical section. Color of squamal hairs and fringes difficult to determine. Abdomen light brown.
Immature stages
Larval mouth parts with alternating mouth hooks of nearly equal size, not much different from other phytomyzine leaf miners Chr milii ceph nat.pct. Puparium anteriorly bent ventralwards (slipper-shaped) chr milii puparium.pct. Anterior and posterior spiracles well developed, of rather distinct shape Chr milii Larva SEM2.pct, Chr milii Larva SEM3.pct.

BIONOMICS
Oligophagous grass miner; pupation occurs in the mine.

HOST PLANTS
Various grasses.

DISTRIBUTION
Widespread from Morocco to North Europe, also found in Canada (Spencer, 1976 b).

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
Apparently not an economic species but often found on pasture grasses.

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