Phytomyza petoei

Description

The larvae of the fly Phytomyza petoei mine the leaves of Clinopodium, Melissa (Balm) and Mentha (Mints). The mine usually starts with a dark spot, then becomes an irregular linear mine, often then forming a secondary blotch.

See the National Agromyzidae Recording Scheme webpage for this species for further details of puparium and adult insect.

Similar Species

Chromatomyia horticola / Chromatomyia syngenesiae

ref.: Warrington, B.P. (2023).  Phytomyza petoei. Accessed at https://agromyzidae.co.uk/species/agromyzidae/phytomyzinae/phytomyza/ph… on 13/12/2023)

Identification difficulty

Leafmine

Recording advice

Leafmine: Please provide a back-lit image of the leafmine to show the frass, and also add a note of the host plant.

Habitat

Gardens and allotments where the host mint species occur.

When to see it

Click on the 'further details' link in the 'Description' section above.  Then click on the Phenology tab which will provide phenology details for both adult and larval stages.

Leafmines are most likely to be encountered between May and September.

UK Status

In Britain this species is classed as Nationally Scarce A.

Warrington, B. P. 2022. A provisional review of the status of Agromyzidae in Great Britain & Northern Ireland

VC55 Status

Rarely recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Species group:
insect - true fly (Diptera)
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Diptera
Family:
Agromyzidae
Records on NatureSpot:
1
First record:
16/07/2022 (Timms, Sue)
Last record:
16/07/2022 (Timms, Sue)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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