Yaupon-holly

Guides

• Phytomyza vomitoriae

  Ilex vomitoria leafminer

  A leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae that creates serpentine mines in leaves of yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria). Larvae feed internally between leaf surfaces, producing distinctive winding trails visible on the leaf exterior. Adults are small black flies that emerge in spring to coincide with new leaf growth. The species is closely related to Phytomyza ilicicola, which mines American holly (Ilex opaca).

  leafminerAgromyzidaeIlex-vomitoriayaupon-hollyserpentine-minespecialist-herbivorephenological-synchronizationsoutheastern-US-endemic