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

Abstract

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.

Impact of Early Season Apical Meristem Injury by Gall Inducing Tipworm (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) on Reproductive and Vegetative Growth of Cranberry

“…was inhibited in the following year, a result that reinforces the importance of multiple-year studies for determining the impacts of herbivory in perennial plants (Strauss 1991, Karban and Strauss 1993, Gonzales et al 2005, Mueller et al 2005. Gall inducing insects that feed on shoot meristems can impact fruit/ seed production by either direct suppression of the ßower buds (Dennill 1985, Fay and Hartnett 1991, Dorchin and Adair 2011 or via an indirect effect on the inßorescence (process of budding and blossoming) of galled shoots (Dennill 1985, Sacchi et al 1988). In our Þeld study, the number of ßowers at the beginning of the growing season did not differ among the three types of uprights at all the sites.…”

“…In perennial woody plants, feeding by gall inducing insects can either have a negative impact on Þtness (Dennill 1985, Sacchi et al 1988, Martinez et al 1992, DeClerckÐFloate and Price 1994, Hayman et al 2003, Dorchin and Adair 2011, or an indirect positive effect in the subsequent growing season (Nakamura and Ohgushi 2007). Some long-term studies have reported changes in the architecture and biomass of galled shoots but without an impact on fruit production (KurzfeldÐZexer et al 2010), a delayed negative effect on fruit production (Gonzales et al 2005), and an immediate negative impact on Þtness and a tendency to compensate over time (Sacchi and Connor 1999).…”

Nova espécie de Dasineura Rondani, 1840 (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) em capítulos de Hypochaeris chillensis (Kunth) Britton (Asteraceae) para o Brasil

“…Dasineura Rondani, 1840 é cosmopolita e conta com 472 espécies atualmente (Harris, 2009;Gagné, 2010;Maia, 2010;Dorchin & Adair, 2011;Jiao et al, 2011;Maia & Fernandes, 2011), sendo o maior gê-nero dentro dos Cecidomyiidae. É usualmente definido como um grande apanhado polifilético dentro dos Lasiopteridi, compartilhando certas caracterís-ticas plesiomórficas e compreendendo em geral espécies que vivem livremente em flores ou provocam enrolamento foliar, mas também possuindo algumas formadoras de galhas.…”

Herbarium collections – an invaluable resource for gall midge taxonomists

“…2008). Dorchin and Adair (2010) described two new species of gall midge from the genus Dosineuro (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) inducing galls on L loevigotum that cause severe malformation of buds, thereby preventing fruit set and seed formation. One species, Dosineuro tomentoso Dorchin, induces galls broadly ovate-spherical in shape (Fig.…”

“…One species, Dosineuro tomentoso Dorchin, induces galls broadly ovate-spherical in shape (Fig. 1) formed by imbricate bracts that are tomentose-silky with appressed white hairs (Dorchin & Adair 2010).…”