A gall midge (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) is reported here for the first time from spikelets of Cortaderia selloana, a prominent alien invasive grass species in southern Europe. The insect is described as a new genus and species, Spanolepis selloanae Gagne. Based on morphological and molecular analyses, the new genus and species are tentatively placed within the supertribe Lasiopteridi and tribe Dasineurini. Its effects on seed production were studied in order to ascertain its effectiveness in limiting sexual reproduction of the invasive plant species. The larvae of S. selloanae feed on the ovaries with a mean seed depletion of 74% in the studied population in northwest Spain. The new species is a potential candidate agent for the effective biological control against C. selloana.

中文翻译：

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一种新的瘿蚊物种（双翅目、瘿蚊科）作为入侵植物 Cortaderia selloana（禾本科）的生物防治的潜在候选者

瘿蚊 (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) 在这里首次被报道为来自南欧著名外来入侵草种 Cortaderia selloana 的小穗。这种昆虫被描述为一个新的属和种，Spanolepis selloanae Gagne。根据形态学和分子分析，新的属和种暂时被置于超级部落 Lasiopteridi 和部落 Dasineurini 中。研究了它对种子生产的影响，以确定它在限制入侵植物物种有性繁殖方面的有效性。在西班牙西北部的研究人群中，S. selloanae 的幼虫以卵巢为食，平均种子消耗率为 74%。该新物种是对 C. saleoana 进行有效生物防治的潜在候选药剂。