Cerodontha magnicornis
(Loew, 1869)
Cerodontha magnicornis is a small fly in the Agromyzidae. Larvae tunnel between the epidermal layers of grass blades and leaves of sedges and rushes, creating visible mines. are attracted to blacklights and have been documented in early spring in North America. The Cerodontha contains numerous with similar , many of which are difficult to distinguish without close examination.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Cerodontha magnicornis: /sɛroˈdɔnθa mæɡnɪˈkɔrnɪs/
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Identification
-level identification of Cerodontha magnicornis requires examination of male genitalia and other microscopic features. are small, grayish flies typical of the Agromyzidae. The is characterized by reduced wing venation and generally slender bodies. Distinguishing C. magnicornis from congeneric species such as C. dorsalis and C. pygmaea is not possible from external characters alone.
Habitat
Found in areas with grasses, sedges, and rushes. The presence of larval plants—grasses (Poaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), and rushes (Juncaceae)—defines suitable .
Distribution
Documented from North America. Specific range records are sparse; the single iNaturalist observation and blacklight records from Kansas suggest presence in the central United States. The was originally described by Loew in 1869, likely from eastern North American material.
Seasonality
have been observed in early spring (March–April in Kansas). Activity period likely extends through the growing season of plants, though specific data are lacking.
Diet
Larvae feed internally in leaf mines of grasses, sedges, and rushes. feeding habits are unknown but are likely minimal or limited to nectar and honeydew as in related Agromyzidae.
Host Associations
- Poaceae - larval grass blades
- Cyperaceae - larval sedge leaves
- Juncaceae - larval rush leaves
Life Cycle
Complete with , larval, pupal, and stages. Larvae are leaf miners that feed between leaf layers. likely occurs within the mine or in soil, though specific details for this are unrecorded.
Behavior
are and attracted to blacklights. Larvae are endophagous, feeding internally within leaf tissue and creating serpentine or blotchy mines.
Ecological Role
Larval leaf mining causes localized damage to plant foliage. The contributes to herbivore diversity in graminoid-dominated and serves as prey for and .
Human Relevance
No direct economic significance documented. Related occasionally reach pest status in turf or ornamental grasses, but C. magnicornis has not been specifically implicated.
Similar Taxa
- Cerodontha dorsalisCongeneric with similar range and ; distinguished by male genitalia
- Cerodontha pygmaeaAnother small grass-mining in the same , overlapping in distribution and seasonality
- Phytomyza spp.Related agromyzid leaf miners, but typically associated with dicotyledonous rather than grasses and sedges