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A review of gall midges ( D iptera: C ecidomyiidae: C ecidomyiinae) of A ustralia and P apua N ew G uinea: morphology, biology, classification and key to adults
Author(s) -
Kolesik Peter
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
austral entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.502
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 2052-1758
pISSN - 2052-174X
DOI - 10.1111/aen.12100
Subject(s) - cecidomyiidae , gall , biology , key (lock) , pupa , taxon , botany , biological pest control , ecology , larva
The subfamily C ecidomyiinae are dipteran midges whose larvae feed on plants, insects, arachnids or fungi. Most C ecidomyiinae are plant feeding with the majority inducing infestation symptom called a gall. A gall is a malformation, often spectacular in form and colour, that is formed instead of or on the attacked plant tissue. In the strict sense C ecidomyiinae are the true gall midges although the vernacular term is used commonly for the whole C ecidomyiidae family. C ecidomyiinae contain a variety of species of economic importance. Many gall midges are pests of plant crops while others are used as biological control agents of weeds, insects or mites. This paper provides a guide to taxa occurring in A ustralia and P apua N ew G uinea. An overview of morphology of larvae, pupae and adults is given. Typical life cycles are exemplified. Listed are species that are pests in forestry, horticulture and agriculture as well as species that are beneficial as plant pest predators. Furthermore, listed are native species that are in use overseas against weeds and insect pests of A ustralian origin and non‐indigenous species that were introduced into Australia to control alien weeds. A key to adults of genera occurring in A ustralia and P apua N ew G uinea is provided. Included are taxa that are native as well as those that have been introduced unintentionally as plant pests or intentionally as biological control agents of weeds. Taxonomic classification of genera and references to species are given. C ecidomyia omalanthi S kuse, 1890 is renamed O kriomyia omalanthi ( S kuse, 1890) comb. nov. R esseliella oleisuga ( T argioni‐ T ozzetti, 1887) feeding on the bark of introduced olive O lea europaea is reported from A ustralia for the first time.