Seven new Rhopalomyia gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) from Australia broaden the scope of the genus

Robin J. Adair*, Peter Kolesik, Omri Bronstein, Netta Dorchin

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Seven new species of Rhopalomyia Rübsaamen, 1892 are described from eastern Australia feeding on a diverse range of plant genera and families. All induce galls on flower or growth buds: Rhopalomyia cassiniae Adair & Kolesik, sp. nov. on Cassinia subtropica (Asteraceae), Rhopalomyia digitata Adair & Kolesik, sp. nov. on Podolobium ilicifolium (Fabaceae), Rhopalomyia glebosa Adair & Kolesik, sp. nov. on Parsonsia straminea (Apocynaceae), Rhopalomyia inconspicua Adair & Kolesik, sp. nov. on Kunzea sp. (Myrtaceae), Rhopalomyia ozothamniae Adair & Kolesik, sp. nov. on Ozothamnus ferrugineus (Asteraceae), Rhopalomyia pultenicola Adair & Kolesik, sp. nov. on Pultenaea forsythiana (Fabaceae) and Rhopalomyia stypheliae Adair & Kolesik, sp. nov. on Syphelia triflora (Ericaceae). The scope of Rhopalomyia is broadened to contain species with a partially setulose gonostyle and a four-segmented palp, a decision supported by a phylogenetic analysis based on the barcoding section of the mitochondrial COI gene. Apocynaceae, Ericaceae, Fabaceae and Myrtaceae are recorded as hosts of Rhopalomyia for the first time.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)332-359
Number of pages28
JournalAustral Entomology
Volume63
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2024

Funding

FundersFunder number
Queensland Herbarium
Smithsonian Institution

    Keywords

    • Apocynaceae
    • Asteraceae
    • DNA phylogeny
    • Dasineurini
    • Ericaceae
    • Fabaceae
    • Lasiopteridi
    • Myrtaceae
    • herbivory
    • insect taxonomy

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