Saltbush-associated Asphondylia species (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) in the Mediterranean Basin and their chalcidoid parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea)

Numerous species of gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) have been recorded from saltbush (Chenopodiaceae: Atriplex) around the world but only 11 of them belong to the large cecidomyiid genus Asphondylia. Of these, two species were de-scribed in the late 19th century from complex bud galls on Atriplex halimus in the Mediterranean Basin. In the present study Asphondylia punica is redescribed, A. conglomerata is synonymized with it, and Asphondylia scopuli is described from Atriplex lanfrancoi, an endemic plant to the Maltese Islands. Descriptions are accompanied by information about the galls and life history of the gall midges, and a review of the parasitic Hymenoptera associated with A. scopuli is provided. Four species of parasitoids were found and attributed to the families Eurytomidae, Pteromalidae, Eupelmidae and Eulophidae, of which the pteromalid Mesopolobus melitensis is described as new.peer-reviewe

Hidden Diversity—A New Speciose Gall Midge Genus (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) Associated with Succulent Aizoaceae in South Africa

Aizoaceae (Caryophyllales) constitute one of the major floral components of the unique Greater Cape Floristic Region (GCFR), with more than 1700 species and 70% endemism. Within succulent Aizoaceae, the subfamily Ruschioideae is the most speciose and rapidly diversifying clade, offering potential niches for the diversification of specialized herbivorous insects. Nevertheless, insect diversity on these plants has not been studied to date, and knowledge of gall-inducing insects in the Afrotropics is generally scarce. Our recent observations indicate that succulent Aizoaceae in the GCFR support a rich and largely unstudied community of gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). Here, we provide a first report of their diversity with a description of a new genus, Ruschiola Dorchin, and ten new species, based on morphological and molecular analyses of material collected during a three-year targeted survey across major GCFR vegetation types. A high degree of morphological uniformity in Ruschiola suggests recent diversification and necessitated the use of molecular data and laboratory rearing from host plants to verify species boundaries and host ranges

Schizomyia Kieffer

Genus Schizomyia Kieffer Type species: Schizomyia galiorum Kieffer 1889: 183. Paraschizomyia Möhn, new synonym Type species: Cecydomyia buboniae (Frauenfeld) 1859: 325. Schizomyia is a cosmopolitan genus in the tribe Asphondyliini with 53 described species that are characterized by four segmented palpi and a needle-like ovipositor, and are known from diverse plant families and galls (Gagné 2010). Several closely related genera, including the monotypic Kiefferia Mik, Paraschizomyia Möhn, and Placochela Rübsaamen, were separated from Schizomyia based on minor morphological attributes. In erecting Paraschizomyia for Cecidomyia buboniae Frauenfeld, Möhn (1961) stated that this species does not belong in Schizomyia because of the simple circumfila on the female flagellomeres that are not interconnected and do not form loops as in Schizomyia, the well developed pupal antennal bases that form horns in Paraschizomyia but not in Schizomyia, and the reduced number of terminal papillae in the larva (four pairs in Schizomyia, only two in Paraschizomyia). Based on our study of P. buboniae and its close relative that is newly described in the present paper, we maintain that the first character does not hold true (the female circumfila in these two species do comprise loops and anastomoses) and that the second and third are adaptive characters that depend on the type of gall in which the species develops. We therefore consider the genus Paraschizomyia unjustified and synonymize it here under Schizomyia.Published as part of Dorchin, Netta & Freidberg, Amnon, 2011, The gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) of Apiaceae in Israel, pp. 28-48 in Zootaxa 3044 on page 39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.20344

Stefaniola Kieffer 1913

Genus Stefaniola Kieffer, 1913 Stefaniola is the largest genus of Lasiopterini, with 108 described species (Gagné 2004) and many undescribed species, all of which develop in plants of the Chenopodiaceae in Central Asia and the Mediterranean basin. The usually small and stout adults superficially resemble those of the related genus Careopalpis, from which they differ in the morphology of the ovipositor. The shape of the ovipositor in Stefaniola is highly diverse, but the aculeus is always curved dorsally rather than ventrally, often conspicuously long, and the apical lamella is variously shaped, sometimes with additional protruding lobes. The shape of the lateral plate and its setae are likewise diverse among species. Apical antennal flagellomeres are sometimes fused, and number of flagellomeres may vary within the same species and individual. Palpus is one-segmented. Larvae lack a spatula. Many species are known only from their galls and larvae (Möhn 1971).Published as part of Dorchin, Netta & Freidberg, Amnon, 2008, The Chenopodiaceae-feeding gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) of the Na'aman salt marsh, Israel, pp. 1-22 in Zootaxa 1937 on page 18, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18498

Stefaniola crispa Dorchin and Freidberg, new species

Stefaniola crispa Dorchin and Freidberg, new species Adult. – Head (Fig. 54): Eye facets circular, gap between eyes on vertex 0.5–1.5 times as wide as facet. Palpus 1 -segmeted, 1.0– 1.5 times as long as wide, rounded apically, with long fine setae. Labellum well developed, with several scales and long setae. Antenna (Fig. 55): similar in both sexes; scape wide conical, pedicel globular, flagellomeres: 10 in both sexes, barrel-shaped, about 1.5 times as long as wide, each with two whorls of connected circumfila, whorl of strong setae between two circumfila, and whorl of smaller setae proximal to proximal circumfilum, evenly setulose; apical flagellomere tapered; flagellomeres 1–2 sometimes partially fused. Thorax: Wing: length 1.3 –2.0 mm in females (n= 15), 1.5–1.8 mm in males (n= 7); transparent, veins other than Sc and R 5 barely visible, R 5 joining C at wing mid-length, M present as fold, Cu unforked. C, Sc and R 5 brownish, with sparse hairs. Legs (Fig. 56): covered by dark, fusiform scales; tarsal claws strong, evenly curved, with small, strongly curved teeth close to base of claw; empodia extend slightly beyond bend of claw, with long hairs; pulvilli well developed, about half as long as claw. Female abdomen (Fig. 57): General color brownish-orange. Covered by white scales; scale pattern on dorsum comprising three black spots on anterior part of each tergite; medial spot triangular, smaller than two lateral semi-spherical spots. Tergites 1–7 more or less rectangular, less sclerotized anteriorly than elsewhere, with posterior row of setae; tergite 7 wider than preceding tergites, with 2–3 posterior rows of setae, and evenly covered by scales; trichoid sensilla not detectable. Tergite 8 mostly undifferentiated from surrounding membrane, with only small sclerotized patch, without setae. Sternites 2–6 rectangular, less sclerotized in mid part, with posterior row of setae and several evenly scattered setae; sternite 7 more setulose than preceding sternites; sternite 8 completely undifferentiated from surrounding membrane. Area anterior and posterior to lateral group of setae on segment 8 with longitudinal wrinkles and grooves. Ovipositor (Fig. 58): Lateral group of setae comprising more than 100 slightly curved setae. Sclerotized rods widened toward lateral plate. Lateral plate sheathing entire base of cercus, bearing 25–31 long, slightly and evenly curved setae, more than ten times as long as wide. Aculeus very thick at base, narrowed abruptly at distal third, tip pointed anterodorsally; base of aculeus with 6 erect and extraordinarily long, hooked setae, curled posteriorly. Apical lamella globular, slightly longer than aculeus. Male abdomen (Fig. 59): General color and scale pattern as in female. Tergites 1–7 rectangular, with 1–2 posterior rows of setae, otherwise evenly covered by scales; trichoid sensilla not detectable. Tergite 8 mostly undifferentiated from surrounding membrane, sclerotized only medially, without strong setae, evenly covered by scales. Sternites 2–7 unsclerotized both anteriorly and posteriorly, with 1–2 posterior rows of setae and several additional setae at mid length. Sternite 8 less sclerotized but more setulose than preceding sternites, entirely covered by setae. Terminalia (Fig. 60): Gonocoxite massive, evenly covered by strong setae on sclerotized parts; mediobasal lobe prominent, setose. Gonostylus stout and robust, cylindrical, slightly curved, almost same width throughout length, covered by fine setulae on entire surface both dorsally and ventrally, with wide, blunt tooth. Cerci wide, almost completely fused, distally separated by small notch, evenly setulose. Hypoproct considerably narrower than fused cerci, with very shallow apical notch. Paramere wide and robust, evenly covered by strongly curved setae, with apical pair of setae on elevated bases. Aedeagus considerably longer than paramere, slender, cylindrical, blunt, hardly narrowed toward tip. Larva. – Unknown. Pupa. – Unknown. Holotype – Ψ, Israel, Akko, 20.VII. 1996, N. Dorchin, reared from Arthrocnemum macrostachyum stem. Paratypes – All material from Israel, Akko, reared by N. Dorchin from Arthrocnemum macrostachyum stems unless otherwise noted. 6 Ψ, 3 ɗ, same data as holotype; 5 Ψ, 1 ɗ, 26.VII. 1997; 1 Ψ, 29.VIII. 1998; 1 ɗ, 12.VIII. 2002, N. Dorchin and A. Freidberg; 1 Ψ, 3 ɗ, 20.VIII. 2002, N. Dorchin and A. Dorchin. Distribution. – Israel (Akko salt marsh). Etymology: The name crispa, an adjective, is Latin for “curly”, referring to the striking setae on the aculeus of the female ovipositor. Biology: The species develops in single chambered, inconspicuous stem infestation in Arthrocnemum macrostachyum. As in Houardiella gracilis, all adults were reared from material in which no infestations were observed, hence the immature stages are unknown. Remarks. – Based on ovipositor morphology, this new species belongs to a small group within the genus Stefaniola, whose very short aculeus differs greatly from the long and dorsally curved aculeus typical of most described Stefaniola species. This attribute is shared by S. defoliata Dorchin, S. rufa Dorchin, and S. siliqua Dorchin, all reared from Suaeda monoica (Dorchin 2001), and a yet undescribed species from other Suaeda species in Israel. However, S. crispa differs from these species in its longer ovipositor and in the strikingly long setae on the aculeus. The only other species in the subtribe Baldratiina, in which similar, but relatively shorter, curled setae are found are Izeniola bassiae and I. potanini. The new species is currently placed in Stefaniola, although a much-needed genetic analysis of the Baldratiina may reveal that the five Stefaniola species mentioned above form a distinct group that does not belong in this genus.Published as part of Dorchin, Netta & Freidberg, Amnon, 2008, The Chenopodiaceae-feeding gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) of the Na'aman salt marsh, Israel, pp. 1-22 in Zootaxa 1937 on pages 18-20, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18498

Lasioptera umbelliferarum Kieffer 1909

Lasioptera umbelliferarum Kieffer 1909 (Figs. 3, 12–13, 20, 23, 26, 42 –43, 52– 53) Lasioptera umbelliferarum Kieffer 1909: 28 Neotype of Lasioptera umbelliferarum designated here – Ƥ, Israel, Giv’at Olga, 19.III. 1996, A. Freidberg, reared from Bilacunaria boissieri stem gall. Lasioptera umbelliferarum was originally recorded (Rübsaamen 1895) and subsequently described only from its gall (Kieffer 1909) from Seseli sp. from Russia (near the Caspian Sea) but the host plant could have been misidentified. The type is considered lost together with the majority of Kieffer’s collection. Möhn (1968) later described the larvae of this species in his revision of the Palaearctic species of Lasioptera based on material that he recovered from herbarium-preserved galls. He noted that he never found in these herbaria galls of L. umbelliferarum on Seseli but did find them on three species of the closely related genus Hippomarathrum. We found the galls in Israel on Bilacunaria, a closely related genus to Seseli and Hippomarathrum that is sometimes treated under the latter (Mabberley 2008). The recorded distribution of L. umbelliferarum fits the distribution of Bilacunaria and the published descriptions of the galls and larvae leave little doubt that the species we found in Israel is indeed L. umbelliferarum. Pupae and adults of this species are described here for the first time. The neotype is designated in order to fix the identification of the species and maintain the current usage of its name. It is deposited in the National Collection of Insects, Zoological Museum, Tel Aviv University, Israel (TAUI). Adult: Head: Frons, gena, scape, pedicel, and area along posterior margins of eyes densely covered by white scales and hairs. Eye facets circular. Gap between eyes on vertex 0–1 facet wide. Palpus 4 -segmented; palpiger usually well developed; segments 1-3 successively longer; first segment as long as or slightly longer than wide; fourth segment same length or shorter than third. Labella slightly tapered, with few long setae. Antenna: Dark brown. Scape and pedicel covered by white scales. Flagellomeres: 17–19 in female (n= 13), 13–16 in male (n= 10), number occasionally varies between antennae of same individual; flagellomeres except for apical as long as wide or slightly wider than long, especially in proximal half of antenna; first two flagellomeres partially fused, last often longer than preceding, consisting of two fused flagellomeres; each flagellomere except for apical with two whorls of circumfila connected by 1–2 longitudinal branches, row of short, curved setae proximal to proximal circumfilum, and several strong and very long setae between circumfila whorls; otherwise evenly covered by microtrichia (Fig. 3). Apical flagellomere often with 3–4 circumfila whorls. Circumfilar whorls on flagellomeres 1–2 closer to each other and often with more longitudinal connections than those on other flagellomeres. Thorax: Dark brown, covered laterally by white scales and hairs, dorsally with two longitudinal lines of long white hairs. Wing: hyaline; length 2.00– 2.53 mm in female (n= 12), 1.84–2.37 mm in male (n= 8); R 1 and R 5 join C at about 0.4 and 0.6 of wing length, respectively; M present, Cu unforked. R 1, R 5 and C along anterior wing margin densely covered by dark brown scales except for white spot at merging point of R 5 and C. Posterior wing margin with long, fine hairs. Haltere whitish-yellow. Legs: coxae with long white hairs, remaining parts covered by white scales dorsally, short black scales with sparse white scales ventrally. Tarsal claws evenly curved, each with short, thick basal tooth. Empodia longer than bend in claw. Female abdomen: As in L. carophila except for the following: densely covered by silvery-white scales ventrally and laterally; tergites each with wide band of dense black scales occupying half to two thirds of tergite length, with small extension in mid-posterior part. Tergite 7 as in Fig. 12. Sclerites of tergite 8 long and slender, widened anteriorly and posteriorly (Fig. 13). Sternites evenly sclerotized. Ovipositor: long (segments 9 + 10 of abdomen 4.29–5.33 times as long as tergite 6 (n= 12)). Male abdomen: as in L. carophila except for the following: color and scale pattern as in female. Terminalia (Fig. 20): gonostylus evenly narrow. Aedeagus blunt to slightly rounded apically. Hypoproct entire. Cerci separated by deep notch. Larva (third instar): bright orange with dark brown spatula; length: 2.36–3.56 mm (n= 20). Integument covered entirely by rounded to slightly pointed bumps. Antennae about twice as long as wide. Cephalic apodemes 1.5–2.8 times as long as head capsule (n= 11). Spatula (Fig. 23) with long shaft and two apically rounded anterior teeth separated by evenly rounded notch; shaft conspicuously widened immediately posterior to teeth and slightly widened at posterior end. On each side of spatula one sternal papilla and four lateral papillae, all asetose. Median pleural papilla asetose. Other pleural papillae and dorsal papillae with short setae. Terminal segment with two groups of three or four terminal papillae with short setae (Fig. 26). Pupa (Figs. 42–43): orange. Antennal bases developed into short, pointed horns. Cephalic seta long, situated on elevated base. Frons without papillae. Prothoracic spiracle thin and elongate; trachea ends at apex. Abdominal segments covered by short, pointed spinules except for short crinkled posterior area on each segment. Neotype: Ƥ, Israel, Giv’at Olga, 19.iii. 1996, Freidberg A., reared from Bilacunaria boissieri stem gall. Mounted on permanent microscope slide. Deposited in TAUI. Other material examined. 3 larvae, Georgia, Elisabethpol, vii–viii. 1934, unspecified collector, ex. Hippomarathrum crispum, Möhn collection number 9382 C, (mounted on permanent microscope slide by N. Dorchin), SMNS; 2 larvae, Israel [Palästina], unspecified date and collector, ex. Hippomarathrum crispum, Möhn collection number 9382 B, (mounted on permanent microscope slide by N. Dorchin), SMNS; 5 Ƥ, 2 3, same data as Neotype (1 Ƥ ZFMK, others TAUI); 2 Ƥ, Giv’at Olga, 12.iii. 1996, Dorchin N., ex. Bilacunaria boissier i (1 Ƥ TAUI, 1 Ƥ ZFMK); 4 Ƥ, 6 3, Park Hasharon, 22.i. 2000, Freidberg A. and Freidberg P., ex. Bilacunaria boissier i (3 Ƥ, 4 3 TAUI, 1 Ƥ, 2 3 ZFMK); 2 Ƥ, 1 3 (pinned), Park Hasharon, 22.i. 2000, Freidberg A., ex. Bilacunaria boissier i TAUI; 12 larvae (on two microscope slides), 3 pupal exuviae (on one microscope slide), Hadera, 20.ii. 2010, Freidberg A., ex. Bilacunaria boissieri, TAUI; 1 Ƥ, 2 3, Tel Baruch, 8.iii. 2011, Freidberg A., ex. Bilacunaria boissieri (pinned), TAUI. Distribution. South-west Asia, around the Caspian Sea (Russia [Petrowsk], Iran [Kurdistan], Georgia, Azerbaijan). The discovery of this species in Israel suggests that it has a continuous distribution in the Irano-Turanian region. In Israel it is distributed along the coastal plain, presumably corresponding to the distribution range of its host plant. Biology. Lasioptera umbelliferarum is univoltine. Galls develop into conspicuous swellings in stems and flower stalks (umbels) that may reach several centimeters in length and more than 2 cm in diameter (Figs. 52–53). Galls in umbels often prevent proper development of flowers. In Israel, the galls begin to develop in late winter (February), are green, sometimes with darker longitudinal stripes, and reach their final size in March–April, when the larvae inside them are still first instars. Each gall may contain several dozen larval chambers embedded in woody tissue so that galls are extremely hard and difficult to dissect. At later stages of gall development, a thick layer of spongy tissue develops around the larval chambers. By summer, the galled stems dry out and turn grayishbrown but remain attached to the bases of the green plants. The fully grown larvae remain inactive inside the galls until the following winter. They pupate and emerge in February-March. The inside walls of the larval chambers in fully developed galls are covered by a conspicuous white layer of mycelia. The galls frequently contain inquilinous moth larvae that feed on the gall tissues and dig tunnels in them, thus killing some of the gall inducers indirectly. The gall-midge larvae are also attacked by several species of parasitic wasps. Collecting the galls while they are still green results in the death of larvae inside them, thus the only way to rear this species is to collect the dried galls that contain pupae or diapausing larvae in February, shortly before adult emergence. This might be the reason why adults of this species have not been described to date. The above described phenology is in agreement with the data given by Rübsaamen (1895), who noted that galls collected in Russia in mid June contained third-instar larvae. By contrast, Möhn (1968), who examined galls from various localities in Western Asia, noted that galls that were collected in July-August contained fully developed pupae. These pupation dates do not match our findings and appear to be erroneous, in particular Möhn’s record from Israel. Remarks. The closest relative of L. umbelliferarum appears to be L. eryngii, which induces similar galls in several Eryngium species in Europe and the Mediterranean region, but we never found L. eryngii in Israel. According to Möhn (1968), the two species differ in the length of setae on the larval ventral papillae, and the teeth of the larval spatula are usually not as widely separated in L. eryngii as in L. umbelliferarum. Lasioptera umbelliferarum has a longer ovipositor and a significantly longer and slenderer sclerite 8 (compare Figs. 10–11 to Figs. 12–13). For additional differences between L. umbelliferarum and related species see the remarks under L. carophila above.Published as part of Dorchin, Netta & Freidberg, Amnon, 2011, The gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) of Apiaceae in Israel, pp. 28-48 in Zootaxa 3044 on pages 36-37, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.20344

Stefaniella Kieffer 1898

Genus Stefaniella Kieffer, 1898 Stefaniella is an Old-World genus of the tribe Lasiopterini, comprising 9 described species (Gagné 2004) of very uniform morphology, all but one develop in Atriplex spp. (Chenopodiaceae) in Central Asia and the Mediterranean basin. The female ovipositor is characterized by a straight, posteriorly pointed aculeus, a rectangular apical lamella, and a lateral plate that bears short setae. Palpus is two-segmented, and larvae have a bilobed spatula.Published as part of Dorchin, Netta & Freidberg, Amnon, 2008, The Chenopodiaceae-feeding gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) of the Na'aman salt marsh, Israel, pp. 1-22 in Zootaxa 1937 on page 15, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18498

Lasioptera foeniculi Dorchin and Freidberg, new species

Lasioptera foeniculi Dorchin and Freidberg, new species (Figs. 2, 4, 7, 15–17, 21, 24, 27–29, 51) Adult: Head (Fig. 2): General color dark brown, densely covered by white scales. Eye facets circular, gap between eyes on vertex 0–0.5 facet wide. Palpus 4 -segmented; palpiger usually well developed; segment 1 as long as or slightly longer than wide; segments successively longer or segments 3–4 same length. Antenna: flagellomeres 11– 13 in both sexes (n= 9 Ƥ, 4 3); flagellomeres 1–3 longer than wide, remaining flagellomeres except for apical, rectangular, wider than long; first two flagellomeres partially fused, last flagellomere often longer than preceding, rounded apically, often consisting of 2 fused flagellomeres; each flagellomere except apical with two whorls of circumfila connected by 1–2 longitudinal branches, row of short, curved setae proximal to proximal circumfilum, and several strong setae between circumfila whorls; otherwise evenly covered by microtrichia (Fig. 4). Apical flagellomere often with more than 2 circumfila whorls. Thorax: General color dark brown, covered by white scales. Wing (Fig. 7): length 0.95–1.27 mm in female (n= 11), 0.91–1.16 mm in male (n= 4); covered by dark brown hairs, veins faint; C covered by dark brown scales to merging point with R 5, M present, Cu unforked. Legs covered by dark brown scales dorsally, white scales ventrally. Tarsal claws toothed; teeth evenly curved. Empodia longer than bend in claws (Fig. 6). Female abdomen: general color pinkish, covered by white scales; scale pattern on each tergite comprises wide band of black scales on proximal part and thin band of white scales along lateral and posterior margins. Tergites 1– 6 with two sensory setae at mid-anterior part and row of setae along posterior margin; tergite 7 unsclerotized mesolaterally, with two sensory setae anteriorly and 1–2 rows of strong setae along posterior margin (Fig. 17); sclerite 8 divided into two elongate sclerites, each widened posteriorly, with one sensory seta at proximal third and few setae posteriorly (Fig. 15). Sternites weakly sclerotized along posterior half, with two closely adjacent sensory setae anteriorly, few setae mesally, and row of strong setae along posterior margin; sternite 7 less sclerotized laterally and more setose than preceding; sternite 8 undifferentiated from surrounding membrane. Ovipositor (Fig. 15): long (segments 9 + 10 of abdomen 4.48–5.16 times as long as tergite 6 (n= 9)); lateral group of setae on segment 8 comprising relatively few (15-20) short, apically rounded, scale-like setae; lateral plate virtually absent; dorsal part of fused cerci bearing two long, hooked, apically rounded dark setae and at least two fine strongly curved setae anterior to the hooked setae; fused cerci otherwise setulose and with numerous straight, long, fine setae on entire surface. Male abdomen (Fig. 16): Scale pattern as in female. Tergites 1–6 with two sensory setae anteriorly and row of setae posteriorly; sclerotization of tergites 7–8 reduced to narrow anterior band, with two anterior sensory setae and no posterior setae. Sclerites of sternites 2–7 divided into two bands, anterior longer than posterior, with two closely adjacent sensory setae anteriorly, row of strong setae posteriorly and several strong setae mesally; Sclerotization of sternite 8 reduced to single median band, with anterior sensory setae and row of posterior setae. Terminalia (Fig. 21): gonocoxite with numerous, evenly distributed setae; mediobasal lobe long and narrow, sheathing aedeagus almost to apex, covered by curved setae. Gonostylus narrowed abruptly at distal third, setulose on proximal third, ridged on distal two thirds, with several setae; tooth well developed. Aedeagus blunt apically. Hypoproct entire. Cerci separated to base, setose and setulose. Larva (third instar): Ovoid, orange, with dark brown spatula; length: 1.53–1.62 mm (n= 6). Integument evenly bumpy except for two narrow anteroventral patches on each segment. Cephalic apodeme about twice as long as head capsule. Antennae about twice as long as wide. Spatula (Fig. 24): with long slender shaft and two pointed anterior teeth separated by triangular notch. On each side of spatula one sternal papilla and four lateral papillae, all asetose. Median pleural papilla asetose. Other pleural papillae and dorsal papillae with long, well developed setae. Terminal segment with two groups of three terminal papillae with long, conspicuous setae (Fig. 27). Pupa (Figs. 28–29): Brown. Antennal bases developed into very short, blunt horns. Cephalic seta long, situated on elevated base. Prothoracic spiracle thin and elongate, trachea ends at apex. Frons on each side with one pair of lateral and one pair of median papillae, one papilla of each pair with very short seta. Dorsum of abdominal segments covered by tiny, pointed spinules. Holotype: Ƥ, Israel, Kefar Hahoresh, 19.x. 2009, N. Dorchin, reared from fruit gall on Foeniculum vulgare, mounted on permanent microscope slide, deposited in TAUI. Paratypes: 4 Ƥ, 3 3, Israel, Kefar Hahoresh, 3.x. 1997, N. Dorchin (3 Ƥ, 2 3 TAUI, 1 Ƥ, 1 3 ZFMK); 6 larvae (on one microscope slide), Israel, Kefar Hahoresh, 11.x. 1997, N. Dorchin (TAUI); 4 Ƥ, 1 3, 4 pupal exuviae (on one microscope slide), same data as holotype (3 Ƥ, 1 3, exuviae TAUI, 1 Ƥ ZFMK). All material from Foeniculum vulgare. Other material examined. 2 Ƥ, 2 3, Israel, Kefar Hahoresh, 3.x. 1997, N. Dorchin, ex. Foeniculum vulgare. Distribution. This species is currently known only from Israel. Galls were observed in the Upper and Lower Galilee and the Shfela (Nahal Amud, Sede Ya’acov, E’n Alva, Kefar Hahoresh, and Tel Keshet). Etymology. The species name refers to its host-plant genus, Foeniculum. Biology. Galls develop in fruits of Foeniculum vulgare (Fig. 51). Thus, this is the only Lasioptera species from Apiaceae that does not develop in stems or umbels. A galled fruit is 2–5 times as large as a normal fruit, contains a single chamber, and larvae develop in it gregariously (up to 12 larvae observed in dissected galls). Mycelia were not observed in the galls. The galls are uncommon but not rare and usually only one or few fruits are galled within a single umbel. They constitute inflated, distorted fruits, usually green but sometimes purplish, and were observed only in September-November. The larvae leave the galls and pupate in the soil. Adults emerged within 10 days. It therefore appears that this species is univoltine or bivoltine - with two generations within a very short time during the fall. Other life-history aspects of this species are unknown. The galls are often attacked by hymenopteran ectoparasitoids that each prey on several gall-midge larvae and may kill all the larvae in a gall. Remarks. This species is most similar morphologically to Microlasioptera flexuosa (Winnertz 1853) that develops in stems of Phragmites australis (Skuhravá and Skuhravý 1981). The latter species was originally described under Lasioptera but transferred to Microlasioptera by Skuhravá and Skuhravý, who created the genus for it. We do not see the need for a separate genus for the two species and consider them as belonging to Lasioptera. The small number of hooked setae on the female cerci and the absence of the lateral plate represent an extreme situation in the genus, but intermediate states exist between it and the more common situation of an ovipositor with a well developed lateral plate and numerous hooked setae as in L. carophila, for example. An example for such an intermediate state is found in L. hungarica Möhn that is redescribed by Skuhravá and Skuhravý in the same work (1981), including a detailed discussion and illustration of the morphological variability of the ovipositor. Among the distinguishing characters of Microlasioptera, the authors mention the weak wing venation and reduced number of palpal segments (mostly 3 rather than the usual 4). We consider both characters insufficient to justify a new genus. Lasioptera foeniculi differs from M. flexuosa in the smaller number of antennal flagellomeres in females (11– 13 versus 17–20, respectively), the constant number of 4 palpal segments (as opposed to usually 3 in M. flexuosa), and the number of hooked setae on the female fused cerci (always 2 in L. foeniculi, 2–4 in M. flexuosa), although these characters vary often within the same species in the Lasiopterini. Larvae of the two species exhibit better differences: in M. flexuosa, the group of lateral papillae closest to the spatula (basically numbering 3 papillae in Lasiopteridi but usually only 1 in Lasioptera) has been completely lost whereas in L. foeniculi one of these is still present. It is noteworthy that according to Skuhravá and Skuhravý (1981), all lateral papillae in M. flexuosa are asetose but Möhn (1968, under L. flexuosella) showed that two of them are setose. Both descriptions agree that the spatula is very weakly sclerotized, often without a visible shaft. By contrast, in L. foeniculi the spatula is well developed. Apart from developing in different host plants and galls, the two species differ also in their life history, as L. foeniculi pupates in the soil whereas M. flexuosa pupates inside the gall.Published as part of Dorchin, Netta & Freidberg, Amnon, 2011, The gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) of Apiaceae in Israel, pp. 28-48 in Zootaxa 3044 on pages 37-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.20344

Careopalpis Marikovskij 1961

Genus Careopalpis Marikovskij, 1961 Careopalpis is an Old World genus of the tribe Lasiopterini, currently comprising 14 species, all associated with Chenopodiaceae in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Adults are small, stout, and very uniform morphologically. The female ovipositor is characterized by a ventrally curved aculeus, a fusiform apical lamella, and a lateral plate bearing relatively long and curved setae. The ovipositor is shorter than in the related genus Baldratia, the number of antennal flagellomeres rarely deviates from 10 in both sexes, and flagellomeres are never fused. Palpus is one-segmented. Larvae do not have a spatula.Published as part of Dorchin, Netta & Freidberg, Amnon, 2008, The Chenopodiaceae-feeding gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) of the Na'aman salt marsh, Israel, pp. 1-22 in Zootaxa 1937 on page 9, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18498

Houardiella Kieffer 1912

Genus Houardiella Kieffer, 1912 Houardiella comprises two described species in the tribe Asphondyliini (Gagné 2004). It is closely related to the genus Asphondylia, with its needle-like, piercing ovipositor that is accompanied by a pair of basal lobes at its base, and the progressively shorter flagellomeres in the female. It differs from Asphondylia in having onesegmented (as opposed to three-segmented) palpi, a single tooth rather than two teeth on the male gonostylus, and an apical, posterior extension of the gonocoxite. Immature stages resemble those of Asphondylia, with well developed cephalic horns and abdominal spines in pupae, and a massive spatula in larvae.Published as part of Dorchin, Netta & Freidberg, Amnon, 2008, The Chenopodiaceae-feeding gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) of the Na'aman salt marsh, Israel, pp. 1-22 in Zootaxa 1937 on page 12, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18498