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.

Chromatomyia horticola / Chromatomyia syngenesiae

Leafmine

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

Gardens and allotments where the host mint species occur.

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.

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

Rarely recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.