Liriomyza schmidti (Aldrich)

Material examined. NORTH CAROLINA: New Hanover Co., Wilmington, 31.vii.2021, em. 13–16.viii.2021, T. S. Feldman, ex Passiflora lutea, # CSE6976, CNC1898786–9 (1♂ 5♀); Scotland Co., Laurinburg, St. Andrews University, 27.viii.2019, em. 17–18.ix.2019, T. S. Feldman, ex Smilax rotundifolia, # CSE5914, CNC5181169–71 (1♂ 1♀ 1?).

Preserved mines. MISSISSIPPI: [G.G. Lewis, 1963], mines on Erythrina herbacea, C.N.C. No 63-22 M (CNC).

Photographed mines. ALABAMA: Mobile Co., Mobile, 30.593612, −88.131508, 15.ix.2016, J. Rowe, mines on Smilax bona-nox (iNat 4114176); DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: 38.940383, −76.985322, 10.x.2021, C. Seltzer, mine on Smilax rotundifolia (iNat 97855079); FLORIDA: Alachua Co., Gainesville, 29.655437, −82.370737, 3.ix.2022, L. Smith, mines on Dioscorea bulbifera (iNat 133499585); Brevard Co., West Melbourne, 21.viii.2022, angelpeach, mine on Hedera (iNat 131841222); Broward Co., Dania Beach, 26.057536, −80.143661, 5.iv.2024, A. Vila, mine on Bougainvillea glabra (iNat 205952537); Hollywood, 26.013214, −80.16085, 1.viii.2021, J. Fortnash, mines on Guaiacum sanctum (iNat 89552527); 26.038564, −80.119461, 30.i.2022, J. Fortnash, mines on Passiflora × kewensis (iNat 105857181); Pembroke Pines, 26.005017, −80.264405, 17.ix.2021, J. Fortnash, mines on Solanum diphyllum (iNat 95212961); 26.014394, −80.275545, 2.ii.2022, J. Fortnash, mine on Heptapleurum actinophyllum (iNat 106051851); 25.99813, −80.22203, 18.vi.2022, J. Fortnash, occupied mines on Smilax (iNat 122375785); Plantation, 26.101822, −80.220422, 26.i.2022, J. Fortnash, mines on Senna alata (iNat 105624202); Hillsborough Co., Tampa, 28.055548, −82.42432, 12.vi.2020, A. Santos, mine on Smilax auriculata (iNat 49783872); Indian River Co., Vero Beach, 15.vi.2019, T.S. Feldman, mines on Pittosporum tobira (BG 1677008); Lee Co., Sanibel Island, 26.437875, −82.12644, 6.xii.2020, S.J. Hewitt, mines on Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (iNat 66215602); Manatee Co., Anna Maria Island, 27.530049, −82.73685, 22.i.2021, T. Irvine, mines on Nerium oleander (iNat 68459512); Miami-Dade Co., Biscayne National Park, 25.458405, −80.191704, 13.i.2021, joemdo, mine on Smilax havanensis (iNat 68190437); Crandon Park, 25.722010, −80.148498, 26.iv.2024, joemdo, mine on Piscidia piscipula (iNat 212600270); Homestead, 31.iii.2013, C.S. Eiseman, occupied mine on Passiflora biflora (iNat 194031554); Key Biscayne, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, 25.672728, −80.161264, 20.iv.2021, N. Frade, mines on Exothea paniculata (iNat 78529752); Miami, 25.74858, −80.203482, 8.i.2020, joemdo, mines on Gouania lupuloides (iNat 37419059); 25.637241, −80.366567, 25.vi.2020, joemdo, mine on Macroptilium lathyroides or M. atropurpureum (iNat 51005472); 25.629155, −80.430772, 29.xii.2020, N. Frade, mines on Schaefferia frutescens (iNat 67257315); 25.708862, −80.332415, 19.iii.2021, joemdo, mine on Flacourtia indica (iNat 71588592); 25.699283, −80.312942, 15.vi.2021, N. Frade, mines on Echites umbellatus (iNat 83211534); 25.56825, −80.434342, 3.viii.2021, N. Frade, mine on Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (iNat 89793760); 25.568525, −80.434538, 3.viii.2021, N. Frade, mine on Banisteriopsis caapi (iNat 89799499); 25.568412, −80.434945, 4.viii.2021, N. Frade, mines on Bursera (iNat 102903689); 25.568413, −80.434678, 4.viii.2021, N. Frade, mines on Blighia sapida (iNat 89924007); 25.61648, −80.306887, 1.x.2021, N. Frade, aborted mines on Aristolochia pentandra (iNat 96829518); 25.675497, −80.270645, 11.iv.2022, N. Frade, mines on Erithalis fruticosa (iNat 111111534); 25.693903, −80.344617, 16.i.2024, joemdo, mine on Senna pendula (iNat 196949360); 25.765585, −80.258062, 13.vii.2022, joemdo, mine on Ficus religiosa (iNat 126588057); 25.63287, −80.34008, 27.v.2021, N. Frade, aborted mine on Ficus citrifolia (iNat 80543750); Monroe Co., Blackwater Sound, 25.149539, −80.39453, 25.iii.2022, D.J. Ringer, mines on Dalbergia brownei (iNat 112338810); Founders Park, 24.962774, −80.566303, 3.iv.2022, C. Seltzer, mine on Pithecellobium unguis-cati (iNat 110328178); Key Largo, 25.286483, −80.293908, 6.iii.2022, D.J. Ringer, upper and lower surface mines on Smilax havanensis (iNat 108079845); 25.173072, −80.36557, 19.iii.2022, D.J. Ringer, mines on Drypetes diversifolia (iNat 109036670); 25.277517, −80.29403, 9.iv.2022, D.J. Ringer, mines on Cynophalla flexuosa (iNat 110900566); Key West, 24.55168, −81.8003, 11.i.2023, D. Barber, mines on Acalypha wilkesiana (iNat 146462544); Long Key State Park, 24.81265, −80.816178, 22.i.2022, D.J. Ringer, upper and lower surface mines on Smilax havanensis (iNat 105428512); Orange Co., Orlando, 28.577813, −81.37015, 26.vii.2023, laurasea, mines on Acalypha wilkesiana (iNat 175024270); 8.371908, −81.54773, 1.v.2023, R.W. Harding, mines on Melothria pendula (iNat 159494131); 28.420744, −81.579489, 3.v.2023, R.W. Harding, mine on Viburnum odoratissimum (iNat 159496343); 28.47197, −81.46974, 11.xi.2024, T. Brooks, mine on Wisteriopsis (iNat 251313879); Palm Beach Co., Boca Raton, 26.367261, −80.075649, 4.vii.2022, J.L. Keller, mines on Colubrina asiatica (iNat 124737795); Boynton Beach, Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, 23.xii.2019, T.S. Feldman, mines on Pithecellobium unguis-cati (BG 1765228); same but on Senna sophera (BG 1765235); St. Lucie Co., Port St. Lucie, 15.vi.2019, T.S. Feldman, mines on Viburnum suspensum (BG 1676479); Volusia Co., Daytona Beach, 29.192587, −81.037322, 27.xii.2021, B. Corder, mines on Murraya paniculata (iNat 103773398); Washington Co., Youngstown, 30.438703, −85.547692, 16.vii.2020, N. Frade, mine on Smilax laurifolia (iNat 53312215); GEORGIA: Rockdale Co., 33.584823, −84.068002, 4.ix.2021, R.A. Payne, mine on Smilax (iNat 102930800); ILLINOIS: Cook Co., Glencoe, Chicago Botanic Garden, 9.vi.2020, J. Steffen, occupied mines on Smilax lasioneuron (emailed to CSE); INDIANA: Porter Co., 41.663506, −87.043710, 10.vi.2024, R.M. Hallock, empty mine on Smilax rotundifolia (iNat 221962116); LOUISIANA: West Feliciana Parish, St. Francisville, 30.966526, −91.475044, 7.x.2023, K. Hashagen, mines on Smilax (iNat 186692597); MARYLAND: Anne Arundel Co., Glen Burnie, 39.164439, −76.639584, 3.ix.2021, M. Beziat, mine on Smilax (iNat 93943295); Montgomery Co., Potomac, 38.995630, −77.247367, 28.xi.2024, jonsense, mines on Smilax tamnoides (iNat 253440503); Prince George’s Co., Greenbelt Park, 38.993513, −76.893369, 29.ix.2019, C. Seltzer, mine on Smilax rotundifolia (iNat 33600158); MISSISSIPPI: Hancock Co., 30.215892, −89.488106, 12.x.2019, J. Wright, mine on Smilax bona-nox (iNat 34296733); NEW JERSEY: Middlesex Co., East Brunswick, 40.41965, −74.482878, 17.x.2022, hb2000, mine on Smilax rotundifolia (iNat 139150959); NORTH CAROLINA: Scotland Co., Laurinburg, St. Andrews University, 24.ix.2015, T.S. Feldman, mines on Smilax bona-nox (BG 1144777); 4.ix.2018, T.S. Feldman, mines on Parthenocissus quinquefolia (BG 1586744); 1.x.2019, T.S. Feldman, occupied mine on Smilax glauca (BG 1734710); PENNSYLVANIA: Erie Co., 42.152349, −80.130059, 19.vii.2024, T. Brooks, empty mines on Smilax (iNat 230393532); TENNESSEE: Coffee Co., Manchester, 35.456662, −86.025672, 2.vi.2023, J. Shorma, mine on Smilax (iNat 172085120); Hamilton Co., Chattanooga, 35.144408, −85.1969, 10.ix.2022, A.M. Bradford, mines on Passiflora incarnata (iNat 134387738); TEXAS: Brazoria Co., Quintana, 28.933747, −95.308678, 17.x.2021, B. Woo, mines on Erythrina herbacea (iNat 98572858); Gregg Co., Longview, 32.528999, −94.794518, 31.viii.2019, cosmiccat, mine on poison ivy (iNat 31885661); Hidalgo Co., 26.231593, −98.211216, 1.i.2021, J. Connors, mine on Citharexylum berlandieri (iNat 67436252); Montgomery Co., 30.38501, −95.522568, 22.xii.2023, W. Kuhn, mine on Smilax smallii (iNat 194621103); 30.138293, −95.166840, 23.xi.2024, B. Jackson, mine on Ditrysinia fruticosa (iNat 252959410); Travis Co., Austin, 30.357472, −97.723305, 20.vii.2024, V. Engel, mine on Erythrina × bidwillii (iNat 230973555); Walker Co., x.2024, D.A. Harrison, mines on Senna corymbosa (iNat 252309088); VIRGINIA: Fairfax Co., 38.857939, −77.328201, 5.viii.2021, J. Clark, occupied mines on Smilax (iNat 90079896); ONTARIO: Norfolk Co., 42.670375, −80.403558, 10.viii.2024, E. Giles, mines on Smilax tamnoides (iNat 245933706).

Hosts. [Alismataceae: Sagittaria lancifolia L.; Anacardiaceae: Toxicodendron Mill. (“poison ivy”), T. vernix (L.) Kuntze; Apocynaceae: Echites umbellatus Jacq., Nerium oleander L., Vinca minor L., Wrightia antidysenterica (L.) R.Br.; Araliaceae: Hedera L., Heptapleurum actinophyllum (Endl.) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett, H. arboricola Hayata]; Aristolochiaceae: Aristolochia L., [A. pentandra Jacq.; Burseraceae: Bursera Jacq. ex L.; Capparaceae: Morisonia flexuosa L.; Celastraceae: Schaefferia frutescens Jacq.; Cucurbitaceae: Melothria pendula L.; Dioscoreaceae: Dioscorea bulbifera L.; Euphorbiaceae: Acalypha hispida Burm.f., A. wilkesiana Müll.Arg., Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (Mill.) I.M.Johnst., Ditrysinia fruticosa (W.Bartram) Govaerts & Frodin]; Fabaceae: Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth., [Bauhinia jenningsii P.Wilson], B. purpurea L., [Crotalaria lanceolata E. Mey., Dalbergia brownei (Jacq.) Schinz, D. ecastaphyllum (L.) Taub., Erythrina × bidwillii Lindl., E. herbacea L., Macroptilium (Benth.) Urb.], Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC., [Piscidia piscipula (L.) Sarg., Pithecellobium unguis-cati (L.) Benth., Senna alata (L.) Roxb., S. corymbosa (Lam.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby, S. pendula (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby, S. quinquangulata (Rich.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby, S. sophera (L.) Roxb., Wisteriopsis J.Compton & Schrire]; Gelsemiaceae: Gelsemium sempervirens (L.) J.St.-Hil.; [Malpighiaceae: Banisteriopsis caapi (Spruce ex Griseb.) C.V.Morton; Moraceae: Ficus citrifolia Mill., F. religiosa L.]; Nyctaginaceae: [Bougainvillea glabra Choisy], B. spectabilis Willd., [Pisonia aculeata L.]; Passifloraceae: [Passiflora biflora Lam.], P. caerulea L., [P. incarnata L., P. × kewensis Anon.], P. *lutea L., [P. pallida L.; Phyllanthaceae: Breynia disticha J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.; Pittosporaceae: Pittosporum tobira (Thunb.) W.T.Aiton; Putranjivaceae: Drypetes diversifolia Krug & Urb.; Rhamnaceae: Colubrina asiatica (L.) Brongn., C. elliptica (Sw.) Brizicky & W.L.Stern, Gouania lupuloides (L.) Urb.; Rubiaceae: Chiococca alba (L.) Hitchc., Erithalis fruticosa L., Hamelia patens Jacq.; Rutaceae: Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack; Salicaceae: Flacourtia indica (Burm.f.) Merr.; Sapindaceae: Blighia sapida K.D.Koenig, Exothea paniculata (Juss.) Radlk.; Sapotaceae: Sideroxylon foetidissimum Jacq.]; Smilacaceae: [Smilax auriculata Walter, S. bona-nox L., S. glauca Walter, S. havanensis Jacq., S. lasioneuron Hook., S. laurifolia L., S. maritima Feay ex Alph.Wood], S. *rotundifolia L., [S. tamnoides L.]; [Solanaceae: Solanum diphyllum L.; Verbenaceae: Citharexylum berlandieri B.L.Rob.; Viburnaceae: Viburnum odoratissimum Ker Gawl., V. suspensum Lindl.; Vitaceae: Cissus verticillata (L.) Nicolson & C.E.Jarvis, Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch.; Zamiaceae: Zamia pumila L.; Zygophyllaceae: Guaiacum sanctum L.] (Eiseman et al. 2019). We now suspect the lower-surface mines on Annona glabra L. (Annonaceae) mentioned by Eiseman et al. (2019) may have been caused by a Phyllocnistis species (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae).

Leaf mine. (Eiseman et al. 2019: Figs. 47–48) A silvery, epidermal, irregular serpentine mine, usually on the upper leaf surface. We have seen a few examples of empty lower-surface mines on Passiflora and Smilax, and larvae apparently of this species have been found mining a young Smilax stem.

Puparium. Yellow to brown; formed outside the mine.

Phenology and voltinism. This species is multivoltine, with larvae observed or collected in Florida in late March, late April, mid-June, mid-July, and early October; adults have emerged 11 days after larval collections (Spencer & Stegmaier 1973). In North Carolina, larvae have been collected in late July, mid-August, and late August, with adults emerging 13–22 days later (Eiseman et al. 2019).

Distribution. USA: [AL, DC], FL, [GA, IL, IN, LA, MD, MS], NC, [NJ, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA; Canada: ON]; Argentina (Valladares 1984); Bahamas; Costa Rica; Jamaica (Eiseman et al. 2019).

Comments. Our new specimens include the first successful rearing of this species from Smilax; Spencer & Stegmaier’s (1973) record of an unspecified Smilax host was based on examination of a puparium. Until Eiseman et al. (2019) reported specimens reared from Gelsemium in North Carolina in 2017, the geographic distribution of Liriomyza schmidti was believed to extend only from South America to Florida (Spencer 1990). Photographed leaf mines now reveal a continuous distribution in the coastal states of the southeastern USA from Texas to New Jersey, as well as in adjacent Tennessee, and with apparently disjunct populations along Lake Michigan and Lake Erie in Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Ontario. Although L. schmidti is extremely polyphagous in the Neotropics including southern Florida, with records from over 30 different plant families, the host range apparently is dramatically reduced northward, with all observations north of North Carolina being on Smilax spp., and with most observations north of southern Texas and southern Florida being on Smilax, Passiflora, Gelsemium, and Erythrina.