Asphondylia pseudorosa, Dorchin & Joy & Hilke & Wise & Abrahamson, 2015

Dorchin, Netta, Joy, Jeffrey B., Hilke, Lukas K., Wise, Michael J. & Abrahamson, Warren G., 2015, Taxonomy and phylogeny of the Asphondylia species (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) of North American goldenrods: challenging morphology, complex host associations, and cryptic speciation, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 174 (2), pp. 265-304 : 282-285

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.1111/zoj.12234

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/81198784-FF96-FFF6-929E-89E3FF3BFC69

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Asphondylia pseudorosa
status

sp. nov.

ASPHONDYLIA PSEUDOROSA DORCHIN SP. NOV.

Host plants

Euthamia graminifolia .

Gall and biology

This species has several generations between late June and mid-September, during which it forms two types of galls in buds and inflorescences. The bud galls are single-chambered and contain only one larva; they are composed of a cluster of leaves that are wider and shorter in the outer part of the gall, and thinner and longer in its inner part, resembling a rosebud ( Fig. 17 View Figures 15–22 ). Some of the wider leaves have a very wide central longitudinal vein that is lighter in colour than the remainder of the leaf. Galls are 40–200 mm wide at the base, and most often found in the apical bud but sometimes also in lateral buds. The base of the galled bud is wide and somewhat rigid. The innermost leaves are joined to form a conical, apically tapered chamber, the internal walls of which are lined by white mycelium. As the gall matures, the innermost leaves turn black. The galls are very common from late June to mid- August, and become scarcer thereafter. Adults were reared from them from late June to early September. Beginning from August, when inflorescences start developing on the host plants, these are also galled by A. pseudorosa sp. nov. Infested inflorescence buds do not usually show any external signs of infestation, although they may appear somewhat wider than normal buds ( Fig. 15 View Figures 15–22 ). The larva feeds on the developing inflorescence within the closed bud, and the gall is accompanied by a white fungal mycelium that lines its internal walls. Larvae and pupae are found in the inflorescences during August, and adults emerge from mid-August to mid-September. The bud galls of this species are heavily attacked by the predator/inquiline Youngomyia podophyllae , the large orange larvae of which usually occupy the central chamber of the gall, but are occasionally found among its outer leaves. Between two and ten inquiline larvae can be found in a single gall, usually with no signs of the larva of the gall inducer, but it is not clear whether they actually prey on it before taking over the gall. The inquiline larvae are very active and squirm out of the gall when disturbed. When they are present in the gall, the fungus lining the central chamber is not as apparent as when the Asphondylia larva is present. Some inflorescence galls were also found to contain inquilinous larvae, usually with one found per gall. The larvae of the gall inducer and the inquiline are both orange, but the latter are much bigger, longer, and more active, and the two species are easily distinguished by their spatula shape. Larvae of a second species of gall midge inquiline, Clinodiplosis comitis sp. nov., were often found among the outer leaves of the bud gall. These are much smaller than both the Asphondylia and the Youngomyia larvae, and are pale yellow. Other natural enemies found in the galls are two species of parasitic wasps: one that induces dark, spherical endo-galls, such as those found in Asphondylia snap galls, and the other that pupates freely inside the gall. Both are usually found in groups of between four and eight individuals. Parasitism rates in galls may reach 90%.

Adult

Colour pattern as in A. monacha . Individuals from bud galls are notably larger than those from inflorescence galls.

Head ( Figs 45, 46 View Figures 45–49 ): Eye facets round. Frons with two groups of seven to ten setae. Palpus three-segmented, segment 3 about as long as segment 2, all segments with several strong setae and otherwise covered by microtrichia. Labella slightly pointed, with numerous strong setae on lateral surface.

Antenna: Scape and pedicel with long, dark setae. Male flagellomere 1 about as long as succeeding flagellomere, apical flagellomere slightly shorter than preceding flagellomere, all flagellomeres covered by anastomosing loops of circumfila, numerous strong setae, and microtrichia; flagellomere 1/flagellomere 5 ratio = 1.04– 1.27 (N = 14). Female flagellomeres 1–9 cylindrical, with two circumfila whorls, numerous strong setae, and otherwise covered by microtrichia; flagellomere 1 only slightly longer than succeeding flagellomere (flagellomere 1/ flagellomere 5 ratio = 1.31–1.42, N = 7); flagellomeres 7– 12 successively shorter; flagellomeres 10 and 11 with two whorls of circumfila and one or two longitudinal connections, numerous strong setae, and otherwise covered by microtrichia; flagellomere 12 spherical, with a single loop of circumfila ( Fig. 47 View Figures 45–49 ).

Thorax: Legs: densely covered by black scales other than a patch of white scales from base of tarsomere 1 to first third of tarsomere 2; ventral part with silvery hair-like scales, coxae with long black setae. Tarsal claws thick, evenly curved; empodia longer than bend in claw. Wing: dark grey, densely covered by dark hair-like microtrichia; wing length 2.38–2.56 mm in males (N = 7), 2.33–2.98 mm in females (N = 3) from bud galls; 1.57– 1.92 mm in males (N = 9), 1.62–1.75 mm in females

SYSTEMATICS OF GOLDENROD ASPHONDYLIA 283

(N = 5) from inflorescence galls; R1 joins C before midlength of wing, R5 joins C behind wing apex, M very weak, CuA forked.

Female abdomen: Dorsum covered by black scales, pleuron and venter with silvery hair-like scales. Tergites 1–7 rectangular, with posterior row of strong setae and otherwise evenly covered by scales; tergite 8 narrower than preceding tergite, without setae. Sternites 2–6 with posterior row of setae and several setae on mid-dorsal part; sternite 7 much longer than preceding sternite, narrowed posteriorly, with group of strong setae on posterior half. Sclerotized part of ovipositor 2.10–2.61 as long as sternite 7 (N = 2) in individuals from bud galls; 2.23–2.53 times as long as sternite 7 (N = 5) in individuals from inflorescence galls.

Male abdomen: Colour pattern as in female. Tergite 1 narrow, band-like without setae; tergites 2–7 rectangular, with posterior row of setae and evenly scattered scales; tergite 7 more setose than preceding tergite; tergite 8 narrow, band-like dorsally, widened ventrally, sometimes completely unsclerotized, without setae. Sternites 2–6 rectangular, with posterior row of setae and several setae medially, otherwise evenly covered by scales. Sternite 7 more setose than preceding sternite. Sternite 8 with small but strongly setose sclerotized area.

Male terminalia ( Fig. 48 View Figures 45–49 ): Gonocoxite compact, wide, and short, with short apical projection extending medially; bearing numerous strong setae and evenly setulose. Gonocoxal apodeme extending on both sides of aedeagus to form strongly sclerotized structure. Gonostylus ovoid, with numerous strong setae and otherwise evenly setulose, bearing crescent-shaped apical tooth. Aedeagus cylindrical, same width throughout length, tapered at apex. Hypoproct wide at base, divided into two lobes apically by notch of variable size: deep in some individuals, very shallow in others ( Fig. 49 View Figures 45–49 ), setose and setulose, with one long seta apically on each lobe. Cerci separated to or almost to base, bulbous, strongly setose and setulose throughout.

Larva (third instar)

Orange; integument covered by tiny, shallow bumps. Length 1.44–3.26 mm (N = 18). Spatula ( Figs 50–54 View Figures 50–54 ): variable in shape; median teeth shorter than lateral teeth, sometimes rudimentary ( Fig. 52 View Figures 50–54 ); gap between median teeth clearly deeper than gaps between lateral and median teeth, shaft well-sclerotized, especially along mid-section.

Pupa ( Figs 70–73 View Figures 70–77 )

Antennal horns clearly different between pupae from buds and pupae from inflorescences. In pupae from buds, antennal horns long, almost straight, apices pointed and serrated in frontal view; in pupae from inflorescences, antennal horns very short, wide and blunt in frontal view. Cephalic setae minute. Upper facial horn divided into two apices separated by shallow, curved notch. Lower facial horn curved dorsally at apex, on each side with two papillae, one bearing relatively long seta. Frons on each side with three lateral papillae, one setose, two asetose. Prothoracic spiracle long and slender, with widened base; trachea ending at apex. Abdominal segments, except for first, each with posterior straight row and two or three anterior, less ordered, rows of spines.

Diagnosis

Asphondylia pseudorosa sp. nov. can be easily distinguished from other Asphondylia spp. on goldenrods by association with its host plant and galls: the bud gall is single-chambered, resembling a small rosebud, and is not as flat as the galls of A. rosulata sp. nov. and A. solidaginis on Solidago rugosa and S. altissima , respectively. Pupae developing in buds are very similar morphologically to those of A. rosulata sp. nov., A. solidaginis , and A. silva sp. nov., which all differ from pupae of A. monacha in having more slender, tapered antennal horns. Individuals of A. pseudorosa sp. nov. that develop in inflorescences are the smallest of the Asphondylia species on goldenrods, and are the only ones known to use this plant organ. Their pupa differs from that of all other goldenrod-associated Asphondylia in having short antennal horns that are distally truncate rather than tapered.

Etymology

The name pseudorosa refers to the typical appearance of the galls, which resemble rosebuds.

Notes

Smaller bud galls of similar structure to those described above commonly develop in lateral buds on this host, and at this point it is unclear whether they represent a separate species. The adults and immature stages described here were taken from the larger bud galls. Some pupae taken from small bud galls have shorter, blunter antennal horns than those of pupae from large galls, representing a transitional condition between pupae from large buds and from inflorescences. More detailed morphological and molecular work will be needed in order to determine whether the different types of bud galls on Euthamia graminifolia represent different species. Our molecular analysis failed to separate between individuals from bud and inflorescence galls, hence they are described here as belonging to the same species.

Leaf snap galls are uncommonly found on E. graminifolia ( Fig. 16 View Figures 15–22 ), and we were unable to rear adults from them. We attribute these galls to A. pesudorosa based on the pupal morphology and on the similar situation observed in A. solidaginis and A. rosulata sp. nov., where the same species induces both snap and bud galls on its host plant.

Type material

Holotype: ♀, USA, PA, RB Winter State Park , 10 September 2006, N. Dorchin, ex. bud gall on Euthamia graminifolia (TAUI) .

Paratypes: Ex bud galls : 1 larva, USA, PA , Lewisburg , 31 July 2005, N. Dorchin; 1 exuviae , USA, PA, Bucknell University , Chillisquaque Creek Natural Area, 26 July 2006, N. Dorchin ; 5 larvae, USA, PA , Lewisburg , 4 July 2007, N. Dorchin ; 1 larva, USA, PA , White Deer Creek , 4 July 2007, N. Dorchin ; 1♂, 1♀, USA, PA , Lewisburg , 13 July 2007, N. Dorchin ; 1♂, USA, PA , Bucknell University Chillisquaque Creek Natural Area , 16 July 2007, N. Dorchin; 2 exuviae , 3♂, USA, PA, RB Winter State Park , 22 July 2007, N. Dorchin. Ex inflorescence galls : 2♂, USA, PA , Bucknell University Chillisquaque Creek Natural Area , 19 August 2005, N. Dorchin ; 1♂, USA, PA , Lewisburg , 29 July 2005, N. Dorchin ; 1♂, USA, PA , Mauses Creek , 16 September 2005, N. Dorchin ; 1♂, USA, PA , Hughesville , 2 August 2006, N. Dorchin ; 1♂, USA, PA , Hughesville , 9 August 2006, N. Dorchin & Michael Wise ; 3♂, 5♀, USA, PA , Route 642 (40°59.114′N 76°38.567′W), 18 August 2006, N. Dorchin (1♀ USNM, others TAUI) GoogleMaps ; 11 larvae, USA, PA GoogleMaps , Hughesville , 27 August 2007, N. Dorchin .

Other material examined

Ex bud galls: 1♂, USA, PA, RB Winter State Park , 22 July 2007, N. Dorchin ; 1♂, USA, PA, Pine Creek , Hampton, 8 August 2010, J. Plakidas (Plakidas, private collection) ; 1♀, USA, PA, Dorseyville Rd. Fox Chapel, 8 August 2010, J. Plakidas (Plakidas, private collection) ; 7 pupae, USA, PA, various localities, June–August 2006 –2007, N. Dorchin (on SEM stubs). Ex inflorescence galls : 1♂, USA, PA, Route 642 (40°59.114′N 76°38.567′W), 18 August 2006, N. Dorchin GoogleMaps . 2 pupae, USA, PA, Mauses Creek , 8 August 2006, N. Dorchin (on SEM stub) .

PA

Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará

RB

Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro

USNM

Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Diptera

Family

Cecidomyiidae

Genus

Asphondylia

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