A Biological Study of Phytobia (Amauromyza) maculosa (Diptera: Agromyzidae)12

Abstract

The biology of the recently introduced leaf miner Phytobia maculosa (Malloch) was studied in Hawaii. The several developmental stages are described. Eggs hatched in 3 days at 81°F, in 3.5 days at 76°F, the 3 larval stages required 2.5, 1.7, and 2.7 days, respectively, at about 79°F; and 13–16 days were spent in the pupal stage. Egg fertility was 65% during the first 3 days of oviposition; subsequently it increased to 90% or more. Total number of eggs, commonly laid in groups of 2–4, varied with individual flies and with the host plant. Host plants included 17 genera of the Compositae and 1 of the Convolvulaceae. Oviposition began at sunrise; reached a peak between 10 AM and noon, then declined. Aside from general predators, no natural enemies were found to attack this fly.