Dasineura oportunista Cornejo & Martínez, 2019

Cornejo, Laura Gabriela, Molas, Bárbara Mariana Corró, Kuzmanich, Nicolás & Martínez, Juan José, 2019, New species of Rhopalomyia and Dasineura (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) associated with Prosopis caldenia Burkart (Fabaceae) in Argentina, Zootaxa 4691 (2), pp. 161-170 : 165-167

Dasineura oportunista Cornejo & Martínez , new species

( Figs. 3–4 )

Description

Adults. Head ( Fig. 3a ): Eyes large, widely connate dorsally, ommatidia circular. Antenna with 13 flagellomeres. Males with distinct necks about half as long as nodes, except for a reduced neck on first and 12nd flagellomeres: circumfila composed of a continuous basal band and a partial apical band joined by two connectives, ventrally with about 20 setae with enlarged alveoli ( Fig. 4a ). Females with last pair of flagellomeres fused: circumfila composed of basal and apical bands joined by two connectives and ventrally with about 7–8 setae with large alveoli. Frons with more than 20 setae on each side of the midline. Palpus four-segmented, each one with many setae, the first segment 0.7 times as long as second and third segments and 0.6 times as long as the last one.

Thorax: Wing length, male 1.3 mm (n=5); female 1.1–1.2 mm (n=5), with vein R5 shorter than wing length ( Fig. 3b ). Anepimeron with 11–12 setae. Apodemes: tarsal claw toothed ( Fig. 4b ); empodia distinctly longer than claw’s curvature and pulvilli reaching the claw’s basal tooth.

Male abdomen: Tergites I–VII rectangular, with a single row of setae along posterior margin, setulose and sparsely covered with scales. Tergite VIII smaller than the preceding, completely setulose. Sternites I–VII rectangular, divided transversely, sclerotized as two pigmented transversal bands, each bearing a row of setae. Sternite VIII smaller than the preceding, completely setulose. All sclerites with an anterior pair of trichoid sensilla. Terminalia ( Fig. 3c ): Cerci ovate, deeply separated, completely setulose, with few (2–3) apical setae dorsally and ventrally. Hypoproct shorter than cerci, with narrow lobes, incision U-shaped about 1/4 the length of hypoproct, uniformly covered with microtrichia and with one apical seta on each lobe. Gonocoxites cylindrical, entirely setulose, with setae on the apical third dorsally and completely setose ventrally. Gonostylus apically tapered, dorsally striate, with setae on apical third and a few setulae basally. Ventrally slightly striate apically and with a few setae, setulose basally. Gonocoxal mediobasal lobes sheathing the aedeagus, slightly shorter than the aedeagus, densely covered with long setulae directed backwards with two apical setose papillae. Aedeagus with quadrangular apex.

Female abdomen: Tergites I–VI rectangular, with a single row of setae along posterior margin, setulose and sparsely covered with a few scales. Tergite VII entire, slightly constricted, evenly sclerotized and with many setae on posterior margin. Tergite VIII divided longitudinally, sclerites slightly divergent anteriorly and subparallel posteriorly ( Fig. 3d ). Sternites I–VII similar as in male. All sclerites with an anterior pair of trichoid sensilla. Ovipositor with cerci covered with microtrichia beyond hypoproct, with long and thin setae basally; short and thick sensilla apically.

Pupa: Length 1.4–1.5 mm (n=3). Cephalic papillae with long setae. Base of antennae with distinct ridges ( Fig 4f ). Prothoracic spiracle long and curved. Frons on each side of midline with one frontal setose facial papilla. Integument of abdominal segments covered with spiculae and without spines.

Third instar larva: Length 1.3–2.1 mm (n=5). Antennae about twice longer than wide. Integument orange with rounded verrucae Spatula clove-shaped ( Fig. 4c ) with six papillae on each side of the spatula, arranged in two groups of three, each group with two bearing setae and the remaining one asetose ( Fig. 4d ). Eight terminal papillae with long setae ( Fig. 4e ).

Etymology: The specific name is from the Spanish word for opportunistic and refers to the habit of this species of displacing the gall inducer.

Material examined: HOLOTYPE MALE Argentina. La Pampa, Santa Rosa, Provincial Forest Nursery , 09.II.2016, from leaf galls of Prosopis caldenia . L. G Cornejo col. (MACN) . PARATYPES: three males, same data as holotype, except dates, from January 30 to February 10 2016 (MACN) ; seven females, same data as holotype except dates from February 2 to 18 2016 (MACN) , eight larvae Argentina. La Pampa, Santa Rosa, Provincial For- est Nursery , 18.II.2016 from leaf galls of Prosopis caldenia . L. G Cornejo col. (MACN) , three pupae Argentina. La Pampa, Santa Rosa, Provincial Forest Nursery , 04.II.2016, from leaf galls of Prosopis caldenia . L. G Cornejo col. (MACN).

Remarks: Currently, there are no described Neotropical species of Dasineura associated with legumes. The only record is from Maia (2013), who mentioned an unidentified species of the genus Dasineura on Stryphnodendron sp. ( Fabaceae ). Most members of the genus associated with Mimosoidea ( Fabaceae ) are from the Australasian Region ( Gagné & Jaschhof 2017; Kolesik et al. 2005).

Representatives of this new species, Dasineura oportunista Cornejo & Martínez sp. nov., behave as inquilines on galls induced by R. caldeniae , and the most important character that distinguish them from other Dasineura species is the empodium longer than the bend in the claw.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Dasineura oportunista Cornejo & Martínez sp. nov.: a, head of male in anterior view; b, wing; c, male genitalia; d, female tergites VII and VIII.

FIGURE 4. Dasineura oportunista Cornejo & Martínez sp. nov.: a, male, third flagellomere; b, tarsal claw; c, head and thoracic segments of the mature larva in ventral view; d, larva, detail of the lateral papillae on each side of the spatula; e, posterior end of the mature larva, arrow indicates the terminal papillae; f, head of pupa in anterior view.