Lestodiplosis lacciferi (Barnes)

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 : 40

Lestodiplosis lacciferi (Barnes)

[ Figs 21 a–c, Fig. 21d (reference)]

Dentifibula lacciferi Barnes, 1935: 525 .

Lestodiplosis lacciferi (Barnes) : Harris 1968: 453, new combination.

Material. Syntypes (all in BMNH): males (Cecid. 2443–45), females (Cecid. 2446–48); reared from [larvae predaceous on] scale insect Kerria javana (Chamberlin) (Coccoidea: Kerriidae ) [as Laccifer javanus Chamberlin ], Bukit Badong, Malaysia, 7-ii-1933. Other material: larva (Cecid. 2451), same data as cotypes but Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Other material: females (Cecid. 2449, 2450), reared from larvae predaceous on Kerria sp. [as Tachardia sp.], Kuala, Selangor Road, Malaysia, 15-ix-1932, which Harris (1968) examined and noted that they were fragmentary specimens and exhibited insufficient evidence either to confirm or disprove their conspecificity with the syntypes. Other material: reared from [larvae predaceous on] scale insect Kerria javana (Chamberlin) (Coccoidea: Kerriidae ) [as Laccifer javanus Chamberlin ], Namkum [Jharkhand state], India ex Java, no date ( Harris 1968). We have not seen the types of this species.

Description. Based on Barnes (1935) and Harris (1968). Male. Length about 1 mm. Flagellomeres 12, binodal, first and second fused, basal node about as long as distal, internode and neck about as long as nodes, circumfila looped, bifilar, with third, posterior, whorl reduced to single, very short loop [ Fig. 21b ]. Palpus 4-segmented; first segment approximately quadrate; second longer, about 2.5x longer than wide; third and fourth slightly longer than second. Wing [ Fig. 21a ]: R 5 reaching C slightly anteriad of wing apex; C interrupted at junction with R 5; R 1 about third wing length; Rs in form of stump at crook of R 5. Tarsal claws simple, strongly curved. Terminalia: gonocoxite slender, with angular, setulose mesobasal lobe; gonostylus long, narrow; cerci ovoid, lobes rounded, with a few setae; hypoproct ovoid in dorsoventral view, slightly concave with two setae apically, with definite ventral bulge; aedeagus about as long as gonocoxites, cylindrical, flattened at apex. Harris (1968) noted that the structure of the male genitalia of Lestodiplosis lacciferi and L. aonidiellae (described from South Africa) [ Fig. 21d ] are similar.

Female. Flagellomeres cylindrical, node 2x longer than wide, neck slightly shorter than node, circumfila of 2 interconnected horizontal bands, proximal band straight, the distal bowed [ Fig. 21c ].

Larva and Pupa. Unknown.

Remarks. Any collector searching for predaceous cecidomyiids should find in a short time a multitude of species in Indonesia. Known to date are only three species whose males, at least, are easily differentiated: Lestodiplosis lacciferi has bifilar, instead of trifilar, male flagellomeres, unique in the genus, a wide, angular, mesally-setulose, mesobasal gonocoxal lobe, and flattened aedeagal apex [as in Fig. 21d ]; Lestodiplosis oomeni has a merely low, convex mesobasal gonocoxal lobe, a gonostylus thinnest at midlength and an apically bulbous aedeagus [ Fig. 22c ]; and Lestodiplosis syringopais has an acutely triangular gonocoxal lobe, a thin, tapered gonostylus and slender, cylindrical, apically-rounded aedeagus [ Fig. 23j ]. Females of these three species were described well enough to differentiate only L. oomeni . Larvae are unknown for L. lacciferi .

Biology. Larvae of this species prey on the scale insect Kerria javana ( Barnes 1935; Harris 1968).

Geographical distribution. This species was found 7-ii- 1933 in Malaysia at Bukit Badong and Kuala Lumpur ( Barnes 1935), and in Java at an unknown locality and date ( Harris 1968).

Figures

FIGURES 21a–c. Lestodiplosis lacciferi: a, wing; b, 3rd male flagellomere; c, 3rd female flagellomere. Fig. 21d. Lestodiplosis aonidiellae (from South Africa): d, male terminalia and gonostylus (dorsal). Figs from Harris (1968).

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.