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

Authors

Peter Kolesik, Bionomics Limited
Nathan Butterworth, University of WollongongFollow
Jedda Lemmon, NSW Office of Environment and Heritage
Tracey A. Gibson, University of WollongongFollow
James F. Wallman, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

133577

Publication Details

Kolesik, P., Butterworth, N., Lemmon, J., Gibson, T. & Wallman, J. F. (2019). First gall midge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) known to feed on plant family Atherospermataceae: a new species of Asphondylia damaging the endangered Australian tree Daphnandra johnsonii. Austral Entomology, 58 (2), 317-323.

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.