Scaptomyza nigrita Wheeler (Diptera: Drosophilidae), a Leaf Miner of the Native Crucifer, Cardamine cordifolia A. Gray (Bittercress)

Authors

S. K. Collinge, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University
Svata M. Louda, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

1989

Comments

Published in JOURNAL OF THE KANSAS ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 62(1), 1989, pp. 1-10.

Abstract

The biology of Scaptomyza nigrita on its host plant, a native crucifer (Bittercress) in the Rocky Mountains, is described. Development of each stage in the life history was studied both in the field and in the laboratory. This is the first documentation of a host for S. nigrita. We examined the activity of adult flies in two adjacent habitats, sun and adjacent willow shade. Adult flies were more abundant on bittercress plants in sun-exposed versus in shaded areas, and were most active from mid-day to late afternoon. Female flies were significantly larger than male flies, but there were no differences in size of adults between the two habitats. Larval damage to bittercress is generally much greater on plants in sunny areas than on those in the shade, possibly due to the increased activity of ovipositing flies in sun-exposed areas.