New genus and species of Schizomyiina (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) from Brazil

A new gall midge genus, Distinctamyia gen. nov., and a new species Distinctamyia matogrossensis sp. nov. (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) are herein described and illustrated (larvae, pupal exuviae, male and female). The new species induces conical, green, hairy and one chambered galls on leaf and bud of Simarouba amara Aubl. (Simaroubaceae). Gall-inducer specimens, samples of gall and host plant were collected at Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Guimarães, in the state of Mato Grosso (Midwestern Brazil).

A new species of Aprostocetus (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) gall inducer on Astragalus alpinus from Norway

A new species of Aprostocetus (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), gall inducer on Astragalus alpinus (Fabaceae), is described from Norway. The eulophid causes an irregular round or spindle-shaped gall on stem, which shows a single internal cavity for the gregarious larvae. One generation is developed from spring to spring. The parasitoids Macroneura vesicularis (Retzius) and Eurytoma sp. emerged from the gall.

Rediscovery of Cerroneuroterus apenninus (Trotter, 1923) (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini) a valid species from Italy with description and neotype designation

Neuroterus apenninus Trotter, 1923 associated with a Cerris section oak, Quercus cerris L., was rediscovered in Italy in 2017. Alessandro Trotter (1903) described a leaf gall collected on Q. cerris from the Italian Apennines; he did not obtain the gall inductor and ascribed the galls to the genus Neuroterus, based on morphological similarity with other Neuroterus galls. We have found the same gall and obtained the gall inducer. Detailed study of morphological characters of adults revealed that the species belongs to the genus Cerroneuroterus Melika & Pujade-Villar, 2010. The asexual generation of Cerroneuroterus apenninus comb. n. is described for the first time, a neotype is designated, and a diagnosis, host associations and biological notes are given; an identification key to the Western Palaearctic Cerroneuroterus species is provided.

The great greenbriers gall mystery resolved? New species of Aprostocetus Westwood (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) gall inducer and two new parasitoids (Hymenoptera, Eurytomidae) associated with Smilax L. in southern Florida, USA

Aprostocetus smilax Gates & Zhang, sp. nov., is described from stem and leaf galls on Smilax havanensis Jacq. in southern Florida, USA. It is the third species of Aprostocetus Westwood known to induce plant galls. Two parasitoids of A. smilax are also described: Phylloxeroxenus smilax Gates & Zhang sp. nov. and Sycophila smilax Gates & Zhang, sp. nov. We conclude that A. smilax is the true gall inducer on Smilax L., and thus the host records of Diastrophus smilacis Ashmead and its inquiline Periclistus smilacis Ashmead, both from Smilax, are erroneous.

A new Diplolepis Geoffroy (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae, Diplolepidini) species from China: a rare example of a rose gall-inducer of economic significance

A new species of the genus Diplolepis Geoffroy, Diplolepis abei Pujade-Villar & Wang sp. nov. is described on host plant Rosa sertata Rolfe × R. rugosa Thunb. from China with an integrative approach based on molecular and morphological data. Diagnosis, distribution and biology of the new species are included and illustrated. This species is the first known rose gall-inducer of economic importance. A review of Eastern Palearctic species of Diplolepis is given and a key to the Chinese fauna is presented.

The invasive ACGW Dryocosmus kuriphilus (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) in Spain: native parasitoid recruitment and association with oak gall inducers in Catalonia

The Asian chestnut gall wasp (ACGW), Dryocosmus kuriphilus (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae), is an invasive pest that affects chestnut trees. The first record of this pest in Spain was in 2012, in Catalonia, and it is now distributed in virtually every chestnut growing area in the country. In this study, we present an overview of parasitoid recruitment by ACGW in Catalonia over a 4-year period (2013–2016) comparing parasitoid communities attacking galls on oak and chestnut trees at the same sites. A total of 22 species of native parasitoids that normally attack oak cynipids emerged from ACGW galls, together with the non-native Torymus sinensis. The most abundant species were Bootanomyia dorsalis, Torymus flavipes, Ormyrus pomaceus and Eupelmus urozonus. The study also found that 20 of the 22 native parasitoids in ACGW galls were also reared from galls of 13 species of oak gall inducer (12 Cynipidae, 1 Cecidomyiidae).

The early developmental stages of gall-inducing insects define final gall structural and histochemical profiles: the case of Bystracoccus mataybae galls on Matayba guianensis

Gall morphotypes depend on continuous chemical and feeding stimuli of the gall inducer, which promotes specific structural and metabolic changes in plant tissues. The galling insect manipulates host-plant tissues and may stimulate the production of primary and secondary metabolites. The type of chemical arsenal and the storage site varies according to the developmental potentials of the host plant and the insect’s feeding habit. Here, we investigated whether the structural and histochemical profiles of the gall system Matayba guianensis Aubl. (Sapindaceae) – Bystracoccus mataybae (Eriococcidae) are dependent on the instars of the galling insect. Standard anatomical analyses were carried out, as well as histochemical evaluation of reactive oxygen species and primary and secondary metabolites. Structural changes induced by the first instar nymphs were detected on the stem, while deep changes induced by the second instar nymphs and adult females were detected in leaflet galls, indicating that the host-plant tissue can impose more limits on gall development and complexity than the stages of galling insect development. The compartmentalization of primary and secondary compounds is established during the early stages of development of the leaflet gall by the second instar nymphs. Despite deep structural differences between stem and leaflet galls, there were no significant changes in the establishment of the histochemical profiles.

Longevity and survival ofLeptocybe invasa(Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), an invasive gall inducer onEucalyptus, with different diets and temperatures

The blue gum chalcid,Leptocybe invasaFisher & LaSalle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), causes galls onEucalyptusspp. leaf midribs, petioles and stems.Biological aspects need to be studied to assist in developing management strategies and to maintain this insect in the laboratory to rear the parasitoidSelitrichodes neseriKelly & La Salle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) that depends on having a supply ofEucalyptusseedlings infested byL. invasa.We evaluated the longevity and survival ofL. invasaindividual non reproductive females fed with six different diets (pure honey, 50% honey solution, pure honey plus eucalyptus leaves, eucalyptus leaves, distilled water, or no food) and seven different temperatures (10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30 and 34 °C).Leptocybe invasafed with 50% honey solution and reared at 14 or 18 °C showed the greatest longevity and survival.