Melanagromyza apii Hering, 1951 c
IMPORTANT CHARACTERS
Adults
Wing length: 2.1 - 2.7 mm. According to Spencer, 1973 and Spencer, 1990 the male genitalia are distinctive, furthermore it is the only Melanagromyza species feeding on Celery in Australia.
Immature stages (Following Hering, 1951 c, Spencer, 1973)
The larva looks like a typical Melanagromyza larva. Larval mandibles with only two mouth hooks with the upper being larger than the lower. Puparium pale whitish-yellow to more brownish. Posterior spiracles (probably observed on the puparial surface) separated by their own diameter, each with an ellipse of 9 or 10 pores on the outer side of the strong central horn.
BIONOMICS (following Hering, 1951 c and Spencer, 1973)
The larva feeds in the petiole, mining initially in the upper, later in deeper layers of the parenchyma but avoiding the vascular bundles. Pupation takes place at the base of the petiole. Emergence dates of the adults in the type series from 18. xi. - 2. xii. and from 26. iv. - 31. v. indicate that there are two separate generations. Larvae have been found near the rootstock and this suggests that feeding occurs also in the stem, at least in young plants.
HOST PLANTS
Apium graveolens L. (celery). Since the host plant was introduced from Europe where M. apii has not been found, it is very likely that there is another, native Australian host plant. Spencer, 1973 suspected that could be Apium australe Thou. which occurs widely in Australia and elsewhere in the southern hemisphere.
DISTRIBUTION
Australia, only found in the vicinity of Sydney.
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
Unknown. The missing attention in the current literature indicates no economic significance.