First gall midge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) known to feed on plant family Atherospermataceae: a new species of Asphondylia damaging the endangered Australian tree Daphnandra johnsonii

Abstract

A new gall midge, here named Asphondylia daphnandrae Kolesik sp. nov., is described and a segment of its cytochrome oxidase unit I mitochondrial gene is sequenced. Asphondylia daphnandrae is significant as the first gall midge known to feed on a plant from the family Atherospermataceae (Laurales). The host plant tree Daphnandra johnsonii is endemic to the Illawarra region, New South Wales, Australia, and is currently threatened with extinction. Larvae of the new species of gall midge were found feeding inside deformed fruits, impeding the sexual reproduction of this endangered plant species.

Plant–arthropod interactions of an endangered California lupine

“…nipomensis (Walters & Walters, 1988). While some galls can be benign, most are detrimental to plant health and, in some cases, have been shown to threaten endangered plant species (Harris & Pitzschke, 2020; Kolesik et al, 2019). Members of Curculionidae, which are known plant pests, were observed within the stem and interacting with D .…”

“…The Dipteran found, Delia lupini (Anthomyiidae), was collected from a gall present on a L. nipomensis individual and has been observationally implicated to reduce fecundity in a previous study of L. nipomensis (Walters & Walters, 1988). While some galls can be benign, most are detrimental to plant health and, in some cases, have been shown to threaten endangered plant species (Harris & Pitzschke, 2020;Kolesik et al, 2019). Members of Curculionidae, which are known plant pests, were observed within the stem and interacting with D. lupini galls (Johnson-Cicalese et al, 1990;Petrova et al, 2006).…”

The ephemeral resource patch concept

“…We suggest the most pragmatic ERP concept is one that considers the ERP as the lowest level of patch homogeneity and community organisation that still facilitates consideration of the entire ‘patch’ community – that is, all consumers of the ERP as well as the inter‐kingdom interactions occurring within the ERP [e.g. between gall midges and their mutualistic fungi (Rohfritsch, 2008; Kolesik et al ., 2019)]. Under such a concept, the gradients of nutrients/tissue types and associated microbial communities within an ERP would be considered as discrete ‘micro‐patches’ within an ERP, and landscape‐level ephemeral resources (such as an entire ephemeral wetland) would be considered as heterogeneous ephemeral ‘habitat patches’ interspersed within a mosaic of ERPs and other resource patches.…”

New discoveries for the endangered Illawarra Socketwood ('Daphnandra johnsonii', Atherospermataceae)

“…This is the first gall midge described for a host plant within the Atherospermataceae family (Southern Sassafrases). The insect has been recently described and named after its host plant as Asphondylia daphnandrae (Kolesik et al 2019).…”

“…Fruit infested with A. daphnandrae are readily observed around March to April by their globose galls, which contain no viable seed (Figure 3). The larvae are legless, orangey yellow in colour, and 1.5-2 mm in length (Kolesik et al 2019). Non-infested fruit produce elongated fruiting receptacles and are more likely to contain developed seed (Figure 4).…”