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A new gall midge species (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) as a potential candidate for biological control of the invasive plant Cortaderia selloana (Poaceae)

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Abstract

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 Gagné. 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.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Duncan Sivell, Curator (Diptera) Natural History Museum, London for examining specimens of D. festucae and D. trisetae for the presence of scales; Alyssa B. Seemann, Systematic Entomology Laboratory, for the habitus photograph; Sally Gagné, for scanning the pencil drawings; Mike Althaus, Silver Spring, MD, for the final arrangement and labeling of the plates; Mike Gates, Systematic Entomology Laboratory, for identification of the hymenopteran parasitoid; Manuel Pimentel for their comments on the phylogenetic analyses; Miguel Núñez and Daniel Pardo, for their help in the examination of the inflorescences in the original population. Lastly, we appreciate the valuable comments and suggestions of two anonymous reviewers. This work received funding from Xunta de Galicia (grant ED431C 2018/57) and the University of A Coruña. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the USDA. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. BioCost research group, University of A Coruña, Facultade de Ciencias, Rua da Fraga 10, 15071, A Coruña, Spain

    Jaime Fagúndez

  2. Systematic Entomology Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, c/o Smithsonian Institution MRC-168, P.O. Box 37012, Washington, DC, 20013-7012, USA

    Raymond J. Gagné

  3. GIBE research group, University of A Coruña, Facultade de Ciencias, Rua da Fraga 10, 15071, A Coruña, Spain

    Marta Vila

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  1. Jaime Fagúndez
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Correspondence to Jaime Fagúndez.

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Fagúndez, J., Gagné, R.J. & Vila, M. A new gall midge species (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) as a potential candidate for biological control of the invasive plant Cortaderia selloana (Poaceae). Phytoparasitica 49, 229–241 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12600-020-00844-1

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