Survey on leafminers in Greece
A survey was conducted on the harmful leafminers attacking vegetables in continental Greece and Greek islands. From September 1996 to October 1997, 89 leaf samples were collected, larvae were allowed to complete their life cycle in the laboratory and adult flies were then identified. Results showed that in Greece, vegetables are infested by the following leafminer species: Liriomyza huidobrensis (EPPO A2 quarantine pest - found in 52 samples), L. bryoniae (EU Annex I/A2 - found in 16 samples), L. strigata (in 11 samples), L. trifolii (EPPO A2 quarantine pest - found in 4 samples) and Chromatomyia horticola (in 2 samples). L. huidobrensis was found on tomato, bean, potato, cucumber, courgette and celery. It is the most widely spread leafminer, and it occurs in high populations in mainland Greece and Greek islands. L. trifolii occurred on tomato and bean and its distribution appears to be limited to a few regions (south of the 39°parallel). L. bryoniae was found on tomato, bean, cucumber and okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) in many regions of Greece, except in Thessaly and Ionian islands. This publication confirms the occurrence of L. trifolii in Greece and gives new details for L. huidobrensis and L. bryoniae (which were previously mentioned only in Kriti).
Sources
Souliotis, C.; Grosomanidi, P.; Süss, L. (1998) Contribution to the knowledge of Agromyzidae (Diptera) in the cultivated vegetables of Greece.
Bollettino di Zoologia Agraria e di Bachicoltura, Series II, 30(1), 117-123.