**Description of Agromyzidae:**
– Adult agromyzids have distinctive sclerotization of the head.
– Compound eyes are usually oval and small.
– Wings are typically hyaline, with some tropical species having darker markings.
– Some species can stridulate, possessing specific structures.
– They are small flies, ranging from 0.9 to 6.0mm in length.
– Well-developed chaetotaxy, especially on the head.
– Wings are equal to or slightly longer than the body.
– Abdomen consists of six segments with short pubescence.
– Female has an elongated telescopic ovipositor.
**Biology and Behavior of Agromyzidae:**
– Larvae are phytophagous, mainly feeding as leaf miners or on developing seeds.
– Some species produce galls.
– High host specificity among Agromyzidae species.
– Considered quarantine pests in various countries.
– Unique overwintering strategy.
– Adults found in various habitats based on larval host plants.
**Identification and Taxonomy of Agromyzidae:**
– Morphological similarity makes species identification challenging.
– DNA barcoding increasingly used for identification.
– Shape of the mine created by larvae aids in species identification.
– Polyteny chromosomes can be isolated from some larvae.
– Taxonomy based on morphological characteristics.
– Understanding taxonomy aids in species identification.
**Economic Importance and Control of Agromyzidae:**
– Agricultural pests worldwide.
– Larvae damage crops by creating mines in plant leaves.
– Significant economic losses due to infestations.
– Control measures include chemical pesticides and biological agents.
– Research on Agromyzidae crucial for sustainable agriculture.
**Resources and Research on Agromyzidae:**
– Scientific publications focus on taxonomy and biology.
– Studies on behavior and life cycle of species.
– Manuals and handbooks for identification.
– Research aids in developing pest management strategies.
– Online resources like Wikimedia, BugGuide, and specialized websites offer detailed information on Agromyzidae.
The Agromyzidae are a family of flies, commonly referred to as the leaf-miner flies for the feeding habits of their larvae, most of which are leaf miners on various plants. It includes roughly 2,500 species, they are small, some with wing length of 1 mm. The maximum size is 6.5 mm. Most species are in the range of 2 to 3 mm.
| Leaf-miner flies | |
|---|---|
| |
| Napomyza lateralis | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Section: | Schizophora |
| Subsection: | Acalyptratae |
| Superfamily: | Opomyzoidea |
| Family: | Agromyzidae Fallén, 1823 |
| Subfamilies | |