Damage based identification key for endophagous herbivores on Common Reed (Phragmites australis)

Author: Patrick Häfliger ©
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CABI Europe - Switzerland, Rue des Grillons 1, CH-2800 Delémont

Species description

			"The Flat-Headed Shoot Fly" Platycephala planifrons (Fabricius) (Dipt.: Chloropidae)
									Archanara dissoluta Archanara geminipuncta Archanara neurica Arenostola phragmitidis Chilo phragmitellus Giraudiella inclusa Lasioptera arundinis Lasioptera hungarica Lipara lucens Lipara pullitarsis Lipara rufitarsis Lipara similis Microlasioptera flexuosa Phragmataecia castaneae Platycephala planifrons Rhizedra lutosa Schoenobius gigantellus Steneotarsonemus phragmitis Tetramesa phragmitis Thrypticus smaragdinus
	Biology: Larvae hatch end of July/August, move down to the soil, and enter shoot buds prepared for the next year. Larvae hibernate close to the growing point and are lifted in spring with the emerging shoot. In May intense feeding starts. Only one larva is found per shoot. P. planifrons pupates in June in shoot tips, and adults emerge end of June/July. Eggs are laid until October on shoot bases near soil level. Description: Larvae up to 7 mm long, transparent whitish (picture 11); pupae c. 7 mm long, orange-brown (picture 13); adults yellow-brown, head very flat (picture 32). Feeding pattern/damage: Due to larval feeding in shoot buds, leaves and leaf sheaths of infested shoots show longitudinal mine like tracks (picture 25). From mid May onwards shoot tips start to wilt. Internodes below the growing point are often weakened and shoots can completely die during summer. Distribution: Europe References: Skuhravy et al., 1978; Häfliger et al., 2005				Pic. 11: Platycephala planifrons larva feeding above the growing point Pic. 13: Pupa of Platycephala planifrons Pic. 32: Adult of Platycephala planifrons Pic. 25: Mine like longitudinal tracks in leaves and leaf sheath of a shoot infested by Platycephala planifrons

2/04/07

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