Primer on
Leafminers in Cordillera Administrative Region,
Philippines
Foreword,
Authors and Acknowledgements
Introduction
Species
Characteristics
and Sudden Prominence
Nature
of Damage
Host
Plants
Life
Cycle
Management
Options
Leafminer species in the various provinces of CAR,
Philippines
Main pest species of LMs are similar and are usually confused with one
another on quick examination. Therefore it becomes imperative to examine all stages of LM development and samples of leaf mines by specialists. The traditional identification of LMs is based on the morphological features. The modern identification is done using DNA sequence data (molecular analysis) to differentiate two or more cryptic species.
Dr. Sonja J. Scheffer, Systematic Entomology Laboratory, USA, is the only LM specialist in the world who identifies LM species based on both morphological features and DNA analysis. LMs and mined leaves were collected by Dr. R. C. Joshi, Mr. N. S. Baucas, Ms. G. L. Sacla, Ms. T. Mangali, Ms. L. Cuanguey, and Ms. A. N. Bahatan from Mountain Province, Benguet Province of the CAR. The LM collections were composed of adult flies on host plants, immature stages (larvae and pupae from mined leaves), and reared material.
LM species in CAR, were identified by Dr. Scheffer as:
- Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard)
- Liriomyza Trifolii (Burgess)
- Liriomyza sativae
(Blanchard)
- Liriomyza chinensis (Kato) -
denotes that the LM species identity cannot be confirmed with molecular data as no DNA sequence for that species is available in Dr. Scheffer's database.
The predominant LM species is L. huidobrensis. Molecular analysis of L.huidobrensis specimens from the CAR provinces, show that they are much more similar to L. huidobrensis in South and Central America than they are to L. huidobrensis in California and
Hawaii.
Voucher specimens of adult LM flies and developmental stages, together with mined leaves from various host plants collected in CAR provinces are currently deposited at the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Unit-Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-RFU-CAR), as guide for economic entomologists identifying these species, as well as closely related insects.
Use a strong hand lens to arrive at rough identification. L.huidobrensis is distinguished from other pest species of Liriomyza by its overall dark color; and the male genitalia. L. huidobrensis larvae have six to nine bulbs (pores/posterior spiracles). Furthermore, L. huidobrensis larae frequently mine along the midribs of the leaves, and late instar larvae are almost always found mining the lower surfaces of leaves or within petioles. This should reduce the possibility of future taxonomic confusion.
World literature on LMs is currently available at DA-RFU-CAR through the Potato Leaf Miner Task Force (PLMTF) for access of scientist, researchers, extension workers, and students.
Go
to Characteristics and
Sudden Prominence
|
