Pseudopelmatops

Chen, Xiao-Lin, Norrbom, Allen, Freidberg, Amnon, Chesters, Douglas, Islam, Md Sajedul & Zhu, Chao-Dong, 2015, A systematic study of Ichneumonosoma de Meijere, Pelmatops Enderlein Pseudopelmatops Shiraki and Soita Walker (Diptera: Tephritidae), Zootaxa 4013 (3), pp. 301-347 : 322

Biology of Pseudopelmatops species and their possible relationship with Sesiidae (Lepidoptera)

Xiao-lin Chen and Yong Wang observed the biology and behaviour of Pseudopelmatops angustifasciatus and P. continentalis in the field at Tianmu Mountain, Zhejiang Province in the summer of 2013 and 2014. We often found adults of these two species on or near a ‘blocking cap’ ( Fig. 157 ) outside the openings of mines made by larvae of Sesiidae ( Fig. 159 ) in stems of Rubus peltatus Maxim. (Rosaceae) . The flies spent long time on or near these caps. We observed a male of P. angustifasciatus even staying there for one day and night ( Figs. 160, 161 ). We also observed interaction between a male and female of P. angustifasciatus beside one ‘blocking cap’ ( Figs. 162, 163 ), but mating or oviposition were not observed. Two Diptera larvae were found in one ‘blocking cap’ ( Fig. 156 ). We extracted DNA and partially sequenced the 28S and COI genes from one larva, then carried out molecular analysis with the adult data. The results of the 28S (Table S4, Fig. 154 ) and COI (Table S4, Fig. 155 ) analyses grouped this larva with Pseudopelmatops adults, although they did not resolve whether it is conspecific with either P. angustifasciatus or P. continentalis .

Several open puparia morphologically similar to that of Soita also were discovered in the lower part of stem mines that extended to the roots of R. peltatus ( Fig. 166, 167 ) in the early spring and winter of 2014. We highly suspect that these puparia are one or more species of Pseudopelmatops . To guide our future study of the biology of Pseudopelmatops , we hypothesize that in summer or early autumn, the female of Pseudopelmatops might lay eggs in the ‘blocking cap’, and the eggs hatched into larvae there. As the larvae develop (perhaps as second or third instars), they may enter the mine and bore deeper, eventually reaching the root of R. peltatus where they pupate and overwinter.

Figures

FIGURE 154. MP tree (A) and Bayesian tree (B) of Ichneumonosoma, Pelmatops, Pseudopelmatops, Soita, outgroup members and one Diptera larva inferred from 28 S sequences of 23 taxa. Values indicate clade bootstrap support.

FIGURE 155. MP tree (A) and Bayesian tree (B) of Pelmatops, Pseudopelmatops, outgroup members and one Diptera larva inferred from COI sequences for 16 taxa. Values indicate clade bootstrap support

FIGURE 156. Bayesian tree of Ichneumonosoma, Pelmatops, Pseudopelmatops, Soita and outgroup based on the combined dataset of morphological characters and 28 S rDNA (28 S) and the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) sequences (1000000 generations sampling trees every 1000 generations, using four chains, GTR + Gamma model for morphology characters, GTR + Invgamma model for molecular characters), with posterior probabilities shown next to the branches and head anterior view of representative species in each genus mapped on the tree.

FIGURES 157 – 159. Stem mine of larva of Sesiidae on Rubus peltatus. Fig. 157 ‘ Blocking cap’ outside opening in stem; Fig. 158 Mine opening with ‘ blocking cap’ removed; 159. Larva of Sesiidae in mine (by Yong Wang and Xiao-lin Chen)

FIGURES 160 – 163. Adults of Pseudopelmatops angustifasciatus on mined stems of Rubus peltatus. Fig. 160. Male of P. angustifasciatus on ‘ blocking cap’ on 29 August 2014; Fig. 161 The same male on the stem above the ‘ blocking cap’ on early morning of 30 August 2014; Figs. 162 - 163 Interacting male and female of P. angustifasciatus above the ‘ blocking cap’ on 29 August 2014 (by Yong Wang and Xiao-lin Chen)

FIGURES 164 – 167. Diptera larvae inside ‘ blocking cap’ and puparium in mine at root of Rubus peltatus. Fig. 164. A ‘ blocking cap’ removed from a stem of R. peltatus; Fig. 165 Diptera larvae found in a ‘ blocking cap’; Fig. 166 Root of R. peltatus with Diptera puparium inside; Fig. 167 Empty Diptera puparium removed from mine in root of R. peltatu (by Yong Wang and Xiao-lin Chen)