The larvae of these two species produce identical mines on nettles and other related host plants. The mine is a long blotch mine, usually adjacent to the edge of the leaf, which turns black. The mines cannot be reliably separated to species level and for this reason we have created this page which treats them as an aggregate.

Although it is possible to examine the larva to separate the two it is very tricky and the National Agromyzidae Recording Scheme usually only accept records from reared material or exceptional images of the larva's key details. Unless you have had records confirmed to species level by a national expert you should add your records to this aggregate page.

See the National Agromyzidae Recording Scheme website for further details of larva, adult insect and host plants for each species.

Agromyza anthracina

(ref.: Warrington, B.P. (2023). Agromyza reptans. Accessed at https://agromyzidae.myspecies.info/taxonomy/term/59 on 05/08/2023)

(ref.: Warrington, B.P. (2023). Agromyza pseudoreptans.  Accessed at https://agromyzidae.myspecies.info/taxonomy/term/56 on 05/08/2023)

Leaf-mine of species aggregate Adult

Provide backlit photographs of the whole leaf-mine in the leaf, and the larva, and note the host plant. 

Where Common Nettle occurs.

See the National Agromyzidae Recording Scheme website for phenology for each species

Local

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

Status of the species aggregate in Leicestershire and Rutland is not known.