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Liriomyza lutea

The family of Leaf-mining Flies is comprised of thousands of extremely small species. In Europe most are 2 to 3 mm long. The larvae of these flies are so small that they can live inside the leaf of a plant. Hence the family's common name. But not all live inside leaves, some species live inside the stem, the seeds of even the flower of the host plant. Others cause galls on plants. About 10% of all species is harmfull in agriculture. Identifying species may be troublesome. Sometimes it is even not easy to tell Grass Flies apart from Leaf-mining Flies.

Liriomyza lutea is one of the most easy Leaf-mining Flies to identify, for it is pale yellow all over. Most other species in our region are much darker. It is a very small fly indeed measuring 2 to 3 mm only. It is on the wing from August to October.

The larvae of Liriomyza lutea are minute legless maggots. They do not mine a leaf, but rather live within the seeds of the host plant. Known host plants are Wild Parsnip, Hogweed and Cambridge Milk-parsley. Because they do not make visible mines the maggots are rarely seen. The adults go about unnoticed too, because of their small size and their resemblance to numerous other species of Leaf-mining Flies and Grass Flies. A common species all over Europe, including all of the British Isles.