Mechanisms and patterns of feeding in some leaf-mining larvae (Diptera, Agromyzidae, Drosophilidae and Anthomyiidae)

Morphological analyses, observations and videos were used to resolve leaf-mining feeding mechanisms and patterns of three Amauromyza Hendel (Agromyzidae), one Scaptomyza Hardy (Drosophilidae) and three Pegomya Robineau-Desvoidy (Anthomyiidae) species. The results help explain linear and blotch mining and suggest a data standard for comparing leaf-mining Diptera larvae.