Lestodiplosis oomeni Harris

Kolesik, Peter & Gagné, Raymond J., 2020, A review of the gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) of Indonesia: taxonomy, biology and adult key to genera, Zootaxa 4847 (1), pp. 1-82 : 42-44

Lestodiplosis oomeni Harris

[ Figs 22 a–o]

Lestodiplosis oomeni Harris, 1982: 20 .

Material. Holotype male, 5 paratypes males, 9 females and 10 larvae (deposited in BMNH ((E)251546–59), USNM (a19250–2) and RMNH) were collected and reared from on Calacarus carinatus (Green) (Acarina: Eriophyidae ) feeding on Camellia sinensis (L.) in Indonesia (Harris 1982). We examined the USNM paratypes: Nos 19250 (male, collected 16-xii-1977), 19251 (female, 11-xi-1977) and 19252 (larva, 16-xii-1977). Those specimens were mounted in Hoyer’s medium. Although we could observe what we needed to see on these specimens, this impermanent medium is gradually crystallizing, and the specimens will eventually become unrecognizable.

Description. Adult. Wing length (arculus to apex) 0.8 mm in male, 1.0 mm in female; R 5 nearly straight, reaching wing apex; M 4 absent; Cu 1 evident [ Fig. 22b ]. Head [ Fig. 22a ] with 11-14 frontoclypeal setae, axillary palpus 3-segmented, occipital protuberance short, eye bridge 4-5 facets long, facets sparse opposite antennal bases. Antennae with 12 flagellomeres.

Male. Flagellomere with three separate whorls of looped circumfila [ Figs 22d, e ]. Terminalia [ Fig. 22c ]: gonocoxite narrow, mesobasal lobes low, rounded, setulose; gonostylus short, narrowest near midlength; aedeagus flared near midlength, prominently narrowed below globular tip; cerci ovoid; hypoproct bulging and conspicuously setulose on ventral half, broadly convex apically, with two apical setae.

Female. Flagellomeres: circumfila consisting of two horizontal whorls of short-looped bands, longitudinally linked with two simple vertical bands [ Figs 22f, g ]. Terminalia: cerci broadly ovoid, setose along length with field of about 15 closely approximated short and thick distal setae [ Fig. 22h ].

Pupa unknown.

Larva. Length 1–1.5 mm long. Head [ Fig. 22i ]: head capsule triangular, longer than wide, posterolateral apodemes nearly as long as capsule; antennae thin, tapered, curved forwards, longer than capsule width. Sternal spatula absent. Meso- and metathorax each with two pseudopods, abdominal segments 1–7 with three pseudopods, pseudopods with sparse setulae, greatly narrowed before tip [ Figs 22j, k, m, o ]. Papillae as in Figs 22 i–o, dorsal papillae with all six setae of same length. Terminal segment with 8 terminal papillae with long setae, a number of additional socketed setae and many setulae [ Figs 22n, o ].

Remarks. To differentiate males from its two known congeners from Indonesia, see under L. lacciferi above. Larvae of L. oomeni and L. syringopais were both described. In L. oomeni the head is acutely triangular with antennae that are longer than head width, all dorsal papillae bear setae of similar length, and the terminal segment has setae additional to those of the eight terminal papillae. In L. syringopais the head is acutely triangular with antennae shorter than head width, the outer pair of dorsal papillae have setae that are much longer than the two inner pairs, and the terminal segment has six papillae with or without setae [possibly broken off] and no additional vestiture [ Fig. 23q ].

Biology. Type specimens were collected and reared from a population preying on the purple tea mite Calacarus carinatus (Green) (Acarina: Eriophyidae ) that was feeding on the tea plant Camellia sinensis (L.) in Java (Harris 1982). Additionally, the larvae were observed preying on the pink tea mite Acaphylla theae (Watt) (Acarina: Eriophyidae ) and the scarlet or false tea mite Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes) (Acarina, Tenuipalpidae ) (Harris 1982).

Geographical distribution. This species is currently known from Java: Gambung, near Bandung, 16 & 22.xii.1977; Pasir Nangka, Cianjur Regency, south-west of Bandung, 11.xi.1977; Tambakan, Tangkuban Perahu, north of Bandung, 18.vi.1977 (Harris 1982).

Figures

FIGURES 22a–o. Lestodiplosis oomeni: a–e, male: a, head; b, wing; c, terminalia (dorsal); d, third flagellomere; e, last flagellomere; f–h, female: f, third flagellomere; g, last two flagellomeres; h, cerci (ventral); i–o, larva: i, head through mesothorax (dorsal); j, abdominal (lateral); k, head, thorax (lateral); l, prothorax (ventral); m, last three abdominal segments (lateral); n, same (dorsal); o, same (ventral). Figures from Harris (1982).

FIGURES 23a–q (from Hering (1931)). Lestodiplosis syringopais: a–c, adult: a, wing; b, palpus; c, tarsus of midleg; d–j, male: d, last tarsal segment (lateral); e, last tarsal segment (ventral); f scape, pedicel and first flagellomere; g, flagellomere (with neck of previous member); h, last flagellomere; i, terminalia (lateral); j, terminalia (dorsal); k–m, female: k, postabdomen (lateral); l, flagellomere; m, scape to first flagellomere; n–q, larva: n, head; o, second thoracic segment; p, third thoracic segment; q, larval terminal segment.