A very small leaf mining fly (Phytomyza bipunctata) has been spotted in the park by a recent visitor (Graeme Davis) who suspected it was a rare find. When Graeme sent the photos to the national recording scheme they not only confirmed it was the first ever recording in Lincoln but also for the whole of Lincolnshire.
The full transcript of Graeme’s correspondence can be seen below;
When in Lincoln I decided to look at a lovely green space called Liquorice Park, managed by a community group for the benefit of people and wildlife. The park was buzzing with wildlife in the summer heat from butterflies and day time moths to large dragonflies. Passing a patch of Globe thistles (Echinops species) in a planted flower bed I was distracted by the buzzing bees. Then something caught my eye. Tiny, intricate lines wiggling their way across just a few of the plants leaves.
I immediately recognised it as a agrozmid fly.. or as I like to call them vegetarian flies. These flies are not often seen as adults and are known for their larvae creating tiny corridors or mines within the leaves of their specific host plants. The fly in question was Phytomyza bipunctata, one I have seen before. I nearly dismissed it, but got a record pic just incase, not realising the significance of my find. The mines are normally found June- October in gardens where globe thistle is present. It is widespread in Europe, but in the U.K. was previously restricted to London, Surrey, Berkshire and SW Yorkshire.(info from https://agromyzidae.co.uk/)
I returned home, downloaded my records and submitted them to the agrozmid recording scheme (details below). Within a short period of time I received a message from the head of the recording scheme, Barry Warrington. Not new to that part of Lincoln as I suspected, not just new to Lincoln, but actually a new species record for the WHOLE of Lincolnshire. I was amazed. A great record of a fly whose distribution is increasing. As this group of flies are largely under-recorded (though this is changing), it is often hard to understand the increase at this time. It is likely the fly is increasing moving further north with climate change. However, as its host is a garden plant, Globe Thistle, it could also be that it is travelling with its host plant. As more people help to add recording to the national agrozmid scheme, the clearer picture we will have.
Why are these flies important? The biggest one is quite simply food. Birds, especially tits have worked out where the larvae of these little flies hide within the leaves and a substantial amount of them are predated by them. They can also be used as an indicator of the environment being that some are very host specific… so next time you see an imperfection on a plant leaf, pay it a little more attention.
Graeme Davis
More info on agrozmidae can be found on this amazing sites: https://agromyzidae.co.uk/
Also, British Leafminers- http://www.leafmines.co.uk/
And… U.K. Fly mines – http://www.ukflymines.co.uk/index.php by the late Brian Pitkin
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