Leafminer Fly (Adult) - Ophiomyia maura

I collected 3 leaves with these mines on 8/17/25. One had a blue-green puparium. From collection to adult emergence, the green puparium gradually darkened. On 8/30/25, an adult emerged from the puparium.

Host: Solidago

comments (5)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Extraordinary documentation! Posted one month ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks! I want to work on photographing the adults better. But, they are soooo tiny -- many just a few mm long. I have a hard time positioning/pinning/spreading/mounting them without damaging them. So, I don't bother. But, I may try. Maybe. Posted one month ago
2. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    I feel you. Once tried to position the legs of a 1-2mm mite and I just don't have the skills or tools to do that.
    
    I did see an interesting technique that I've not tried myself yet. Lay the insect on its back with legs up. If possible at this point, position the legs in their natural direction. For example, take two needles, put on the middle of the underside of the insect, then move in opposing directions to "comb" the six legs. So that each leg is separated, not sticking to another.
    
    Next, take a needle and pierce through a small piece of cardboard, and continue to pierce through the bottom of the abdomen of the insect. Now flip the entire structure. Slowly pull the needle down so that the insect "lands" on the platform, the cardboard.
    
    I saw Allen Walls do this with a beetle and it worked great. It looked position as if alive, standing in its natural position. Surely not as easy with a smaller subject! Posted one month ago
  2. 1. Christine Young
      
      Lion
      
      I think that technique would be really useful with various insects. In grad school, I would mount tiny insects on points, like seen here:
      
      https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/401Book/default.php?page=pinning_small_insects
      
      This method works well, if you can overlook the $80 (USD) cost of the paper punch. Posted one month ago
    2. 1. Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        That's an interesting technique. I've seen a variation of it in the extreme macro community where the insect's side is pierced on one side and then you photograph the other side. This does not necessarily solve the leg positioning problems though. Posted one month ago

The Ophiomyia maura

Ophiomyia maura is a species of leaf miner flies.

Adult: wing length 1.9 to 2.5 mm., costa extending to m1+2, last and penultimate sections of m4 normally equal but distinctly variable (I have seen one male with the last section longer, in ratio 21:16 with penultimate); irons one and a half times width of eye; jowls narrow, between one-sixth and one-eighth vertical height of eye, not greatly projecting, forming vibrissal angle of about 80°; vibrissal horn in male rather slender; facial.. more

Info 6 0

Similar species: True Flies

Species identified by Christine Young

By Christine Young

Attribution Non-Commercial

Uploaded Sep 6, 2025. Captured in 91 Main St, Sharon, CT 06069, USA.

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