New stem-boring fly Melanagromyza moatesi found at Lackford Lakes
New species of fly discovered at Lackford Lakes
It's not every day that a new species is discovered, so it's extremely exciting that a new stem-boring fly has been found by Graham Moates, a volunteer at Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve, and described by Agromyzidae/Diptera expert and organiser of the National Agromyzidae Recording Scheme, Barry Warrington.
The species, Melanagromyza moatesi, has been named after Graham who discovered its puparia in the stems of hemp-agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum). Hemp-agrimony is a herbaceous plant with clusters of fluffy, pink flower heads, much loved by butterflies and bees for its pollen and nectar, which grows in damp or wet habitats such as pond margins, riversides, fens and marshes.
The holotype (the specimen upon which the description of the species is based) reared from puparia collected by Graham from Lackford Lakes is now deposited, along with four paratypes, at the National History Museum in London:
Melanagromyza moatesi
If you'd like to find out more about the new species, check out "Warrington, B. P. 2019. A new species of the genus Melanagromyza (Diptera, Agromyzidae) from eastern England. Dipterists Digest, 26 (2), 181-194." or e-mail agromyzidaeRS@gmail.com.
Just imagine what else is there still to discover and name...