<i>Dasineura banksiae</i>: a new species of gall midge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) feeding on <i>Banksia coccinea</i> (Proteaceae) in Australia

Two new species of gall midges, Dasineura strobila Dorchin n.sp. and D. tomentosa Dorchin n.sp., are described from galls in vegetative and reproductive buds of coastal tea tree, Leptospermum laevigatum from Australia and South Africa. Galls cause abortion of buds and, when induced in reproductive tissues, prevent fruit set and seed formation. Despite their assumed relatedness, the two species exhibit clear morphological differences in larvae, pupae and adults of both sexes as well as in the morphology of their galls. These are the first Dasineura species to be described from plants of the Myrtaceae outside the Neotropical and Nearctic regions and the first ones recorded from the chiefly Australian subfamily Leptospermoideae. Given the effect of galls on growth and reproduction of the plant, the gall midges are considered as possible biological control agents of coastal tea tree in areas of Australia and South Africa where the plant is an invasive weed.

Section: General Taxonomic Commentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Two new Dasineura species (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) from coastal tea tree, Leptospermum laevigatum (Myrtaceae) in Australia

Dorchin

Adair²

2011

“…Individual adults or pooled larvae were used in extraction yielding usable DNA amounts for five males, one female and four larvae. DNA extraction, amplification and sequencing of 488‐bp‐long segment of cytochrome oxidase subunit I mitochondrial gene (COI) followed Kolesik et al. (2007).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Procontarinia pustulata, a new gall midge species (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) feeding on mango, Mangifera indica (Anarcadiaceae), in northern Australia and Papua New Guinea

Kolesik

Rice

Bellis³

et al. 2009

Self Cite

Procontarinia pustulata sp. n. is described from northern Australia and Papua New Guinea. Larvae feed on mango Mangifera indica causing blister-like galls on leaves. The new species pupates in the soil. The genus Procontarinia Kieffer & Cecconi contains 15 named and several unnamed species, all of which feed on mango, with several being pests of cultivated mango worldwide. Procontarinia pustulata sp. n. differs from its congeners in morphology and gall anatomy as well as DNA sequence of COI. A simple technique is presented for rearing soil-pupating gall midges in tropical region.

“…Emerged midges were preserved in 99% ethanol. Canada balsam slides of type specimens were prepared according to Kolesik et al 2007. Types are deposited in the South Australian Museum, Adelaide (SAMA) and the Australian National Insect Collection, Canberra (ANIC).…”

Section: Morphologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The others are Resseliella proteae Gagné, a non-galling species feeding within flower heads of Protea repens (L.) L. in South Africa (Gagné 1983) and Dasineura banksiae Kolesik that causes conspicuous spherical white-haired leaf galls on Banksia coccinea R. Br. in Western Australia (Kolesik et al 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

A new species of gall midge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) feeding onHakea(Proteaceae)

Kolesik

Barker

2013

Self Cite

Dasineura gannoni Kolesik sp. nov. is the first gall midge species known to feed on plants from the Hakea-Grevillea generic alliance. D. gannoni induces galls on swamp-loving Hakea microcarpa R. Br. and H. nodosa R. Br., flowering plant shrubs naturally occurring in south-east mainland Australia and Tasmania. The gall is a conspicuous red-coloured, multi-chambered, leaf swelling containing one, occasionally two, red larvae in each chamber. Pupation takes place in the soil. The new species was originally identified on H. microcarpa near Thredbo River in New South Wales. Later examination of herbarium vouchers found presence of galls of the new species on further specimens of H. microcarpa and another swamp-loving species H. nodosa. The geographical range of the new species extends over much of the combined distribution area of the two host plants on mainland Australia from far south-east Queensland through east New South Wales to Victoria and south-east South Australia.