Blotch-mining agromyzid on dayflowers (Commelina spp.)
I'm using this post to organize information about an unknown species that is widespread in eastern and central North America, making communal blotch mines at the tips of Commelina leaves. So far I have been sent adults reared in Nebraska (but in poor condition), and adults have been reared in Texas but not sent to me; additional specimens would be most welcome!
ARIZONA
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/101573782 (empty in early August)
IOWA
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/126396442 (occupied mine in early July, Commelina communis)
MARYLAND
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/135741747 (empty in late July, Commelina communis)
MASSACHUSETTS
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/84628557 (empty in late June, Commelina communis)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/169367198 (empty in late June, Commelina communis)
NEBRASKA
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/167916326 (occupied mine in June)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52501694 (occupied mine in July)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/124321378 (occupied mine in July)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/127296313 (occupied mine in July)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/174197152 (adults reared in July)
NEW JERSEY
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/93249167 (empty in late August, Commelina communis)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/58989226 (empty in early September, Commelina ?communis)
NEW YORK
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/171116790 (empty in early July, Commelina communis)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/171933959 (empty in early July, Commelina communis)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/88375875 (empty in late July, Commelina communis)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/127988596 (aborted in late July, Commelina communis)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/57349282 (empty in late August, Commelina communis)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/57457933 (empty in late August, Commelina communis)
OHIO
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/122423956 (empty in mid-June, Commelina communis)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/88268930 (empty in mid-July)
OKLAHOMA
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/90184816 (empty in early August, Commelina communis)
ONTARIO
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/171240729 (empty in late June)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/171240726 (empty in late June)
PENNSYLVANIA
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/83704220 (empty in early June, Commelina communis)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/87465352 (empty in mid-July, Commelina communis)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/87465504 (empty in mid-July, Commelina communis)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/89344660 (empty in late July, Commelina communis)
TEXAS
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/157203052 (empty in late April, Commelina erecta)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/158941750 (adults reared in May, Commelina erecta)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52611726 (empty in early July, Commelina erecta)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/87073953 (empty in mid-July, Commelina erecta)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/87466107 (aborted in mid-July, maybe not the same thing; Commelina erecta)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/191702503 (occupied in late November, Commelina erecta)
Comments
I've note a couple of places where I've seen the host. If I see a mine and can get permission to collect, do you have a reference to share on rearing them?
Yes, here's how I do it: https://bugtracks.wordpress.com/rearing/
Thank you! Btw, bioquip (referenced in your post) is gone. Thornton seems to only offer large quantities of the plastic tubes for rearing. Other suppliers I found noted elsewhere (in posts about the bioquip closure) also seem to offer only large quantities or don't have this product at all. The exception was a supplier listed in an iNat discussion thread: ecologysupplies
Separate question... those plastic tubes look a lot like pill bottles, except that they're colorless and have snap caps. Are well-washed pill bottles suitable in a pinch? (Harder to see the organism's development, obviously.)
Thanks, I guess I should remove the reference to Bioquip.
At least some pill bottles will work fine. Basically, any container that is airtight, is not too big to maintain proper humidity, allows you to see inside, and doesn't have crevices where tiny insects could hide, should work fine for rearing.
I tend to have a big patch of asiatic dayflower in my backyard so I'll def keep an eye out! Found your post about rearing earlier when I was looking up how I would go about doing that, but thanks for adding that Ecology Supplies link now -- the options there are cheaper than anything I found on Amazon (and I couldn't justify spending 80 bucks for hundreds direct from Thornton, lol)
Another Observation to add to that list: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/198706554
I actually was able to rear one male from my previous observation. It appears to be a Poemyza species. I kept the specimen and can send it.
Wow! A Poemyza sure isn't what I was expecting. I'd love to have that specimen.
Very interesting! No shortage of dayflowers here - I'll keep an eye out this summer.
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