New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts
Description of Eucalyptodiplosis chionochloae sp. nov., a
cecidomyiid feeding on inflorescences of Chionochloa (Poaceae)
in New Zealand
Peter Kolesik1
Michal S. Sarfati2
Eckehard G. Brockerhoff3
Dave Kelly2*
1Bionomics Ltd
31 Dalgleish Street
Thebarton SA 5031
Australia
pkolesik@bionomics.com.au
2Biological Sciences
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
dave.kelly@canterbury.ac.nz
msa49@student.canterbury.ac.nz
3Ensis
PO Box 29237
Christchurch 8540, New Zealand
eckehard.brockerhoff@ensisjv.com
*Author for correspondence.
Abstract A cecidomyiid that feeds on developing
seeds in the inflorescences of the New Zealand tussock grasses Chionochloa
australis, C. conspicua, C. crassiuscula, C.
flavescens, C. macra, C. oreophila, C. pallens,
C. rigida, C. rubra, C. spiralis and C.
teretifolia is formally described from C. pallens. The new
species, named Eucalyptodiplosis chionochloae Kolesik, is the
most ubiquitous of flower feeders of Chionochloa. Its larvae do
not form galls but feed on the developing seeds in autumn, overwinter
as diapausing larvae inside the floret, and pupate then rapidly eclose
in summer, sometimes after extended diapause. Methods for rearing
adults are described. Based on its morphological characters this
species is most closely related to two described congeners that form
galls on buds of Eucalyptus trees in Australia. Seed predation
by Eucalyptodiplosis chionochloae larvae appears to be the
primary driver of the extreme mast seeding (variation among years in
flower crops) seen in the host Chionochloa species.
Keywords Cecidomyiidae; Chionochloa australis;
C. conspicua; C. crassiuscula; C. flavescens; C.
macra; C. oreophila; C. pallens; C. rigida;
C. rubra; C. spiralis; C. teretifolia; Eucalyptodiplosis
chionochloae; extended diapause; gall midge; mast seeding; Poaceae;
predator satiation; tussock grass
Z06040; Online publication date 1 May 2007; Received 20 December 2006;
accepted 20 March 2007
New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 2007, Vol. 34: 107—115
0301—4223/07/3402—0107 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2007
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