RES Handbook Vol 10 Part 5g. Diptera - Agromyzidae

THE Agromyzidae belong to the section Acalyptratae of the suborder Cyclorrhapha Schizophora. Within this group the family occupies an isolated position. Hennig (1958) considered the most closely related family to be the Odiniidae; however, in a recent study of the relationships of the Cyclorrhapha undertaken by Griffiths (in press), he concludes that the sister-group of the Agromyzidae is probably the Clusiidae, although the morpho- logical gap between these two families is still considerable. The larvae of Clusiidae feed mainly on rotting wood, which could be considered as a link to the most primitive genus of the Agromyzidae, Phytobia Lioy, the larvae of which feed as borers in branches or trunks of young trees.