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The blotch leafminers, Amauromyza spp. and Phytomyza spp. They are another important group of leafminers that produce a blotch or blister instead of a serpentine mine. The adults are black or grey flies about the size of the common house fly.
Amauromyza flies insert their eggs into the leaf and larvae develop inside the leaf. Pupation is outside of the leaf tissue and the puparium is reddish-colored. Little detailed information is available on the life cycle of Amauromyza spp.
Larvae of Phytomyza spp. form a linear mine in the first instar. This mine later develops into an irregular blotch. Pupation occurs in the mine. The larvae feeds slowly throughout the summer and overwintering takes place in the third instar or pupa stage.
For additional information on the blotch leafminer see the Featured Creatures Web site at http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/orn/blotch_leafminer.htm