Host Specialization in the World Agromyzidae (Diptera)Phytophagous insects represent a very particular not really belong to their host plant range. This may group of organisms. Firstly, their number amounts lead to mistaken conclusions especially in regions to more than one quarter of all recent species (ex where only few observations were possible, as well cluding fungi, algae and microbes) and together with as in the case of uncommon insect species. Fourthly, the green plants on which they feed they form al the great majority (99. 4%) of the agromyzid species most one half of all living species described so far. studied show a high degree of host specialization Secondly, their overwhelming majority shows very which makes these insects especially suitable for narrow host plant specialization, that is they feed taxonomic-phylogenetic considerations. only on one or a few, mostly closely related plant With such an enormous amount of data, it may species, a characteristic that led J. H. Fabre to elab have been tempting to draw far-reaching conclu orate the notion of the 'insects' botanical instinct' a sions. However, the author has been very careful in century ago. doing this. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
aedeagus Africa Agromyza Agromyzid genera Agromyzidae albiceps group Amauromyza Apiaceae Argentina Artemisia Asteraceae Australia blotch mines bryoniae Calycomyza ceae Cerodontha Chromatomyia horticola closely related colonized Cyperaceae described Diptera distinct distiphallus Europe feeders feeding of Phytobia flacourtiae genera genus Griffiths Hamamelidae Heliantheae Hendel cf Hering cf holotype host range host-specific huidobrensis isolated species italia Japan Japanagromyza Java Kenya Lactuceae Lamiaceae larva larva forming larval feeding leaf miners Leguminosae Liriomyza Liriomyza species male genitalia Fig Meigen Melanagromyza monocots myza Napomyza North America Nowakowski oligophagous Ophiomyia Order Paraphytomyza Phytobia sp Phytoliriomyza Phytomyza Phytomyza species Poaceae polyphagous polyphagous species polyphyta posterior spiracles puparium pupating Ranunculaceae reared recorded represent Sasakawa sclerites Senecio side view South species species are known species known specimens Spencer and Steyskal spiracles spondylii stem strigata Subfamily Subtribe Süss Table tribe trifolii tropical Tropicomyia undescribed Valladares ventral view widespread xanthocera Zealand