Gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) of Australian cypress‐pines, Callitris spp. (Cupressaceae), with descriptions of three new genera and three new species

• Published in: Australian journal of entomology Vol. 39; no. 4; pp. 244 - 255
• Main Author: Kolesik, Peter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne, Australia Blackwell Science Pty 01.10.2000
• Subjects: Callitridiplosis jana; Callitris endlicheri; Callitris glaucophylla; Callitris gracilis; Cecidomyiidae; Dasineura callitridis; Gladiodiplosis; Gladiodiplosis frenelae; insect taxonomy; Mesodiplosis callitridis; Australia
• ISSN: 1326-6756; 1440-6055
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1440-6055.2000.00185.x

Three new species of gall midges associated with two gall types on Callitris trees in Australia are described and one species is redescribed. Three new genera are erected for two of the new and the redescribed species: Mesodiplosis, Callitridiplosis and Gladiodiplosis. Mesodiplosis callitridis gen. et sp. n. produces a trivalvate, capsule‐like branch shoot gall on Callitris endlicheri (Parl.) F. M. Bailey, Callitris glaucophylla Joy Thomps. & L. A. S. Johnson and Callitris gracilis R. T. Baker. Callitridiplosis jana gen. et sp. n. produces a rosette‐like male flower gall on C. glaucophylla and C. gracilis. Both gall types additionally accommodate two inquiline gall midges, Dasineura callitridis sp. n. and Gladiodiplosis frenelae (Skuse). The galls were found to be common and potentially capable of restricting the reproduction and growth of the trees. The new genera belong to the supertribe Cecidomyiidi. Keys to adults of Australian genera of Cecidomyiidi and species of the genus Dasineura are given.