Suaediola quotidiana Dorchin, 2019

Dorchin, Netta, Danon, Gilad & Dor, Roi, 2019, Gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) associated with Suaeda (Chenopodiaceae) in Israel and the Mediterranean Basin, Israel Journal of Entomology (Oxford, England) 49 (2), pp. 99-134 : 129-131

Suaediola quotidiana Dorchin , n. sp.

( Figs 29, 38–41, 43, 46, 47)

LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:DE397272-6C71-4AB6-B71D-E4325606E4ED .

Etymology: The name quotidiana is a Latin adjective for 'ordinary' or 'common', with reference to the great abundance of this species throughout winter and spring, especially on S. fruticosa .

Description:

Gall and biology. This species develops without evident gall formation in leaves of Suaeda fruticosa and S. aegyptiaca . The presence of a gall midge in the leaf becomes obvious only when the adults emerge, as the empty pupal exuviae are left stuck in the leaf. Usually only one but occasionally two individuals develop per leaf. The area of the leaf around a larva is somewhat more rigid than the normal, soft tissues of the leaf.Adults were reared in great numbers from December to April, suggesting that the species completes several generations during winter and early spring. Larvae of the last generation (in spring) probably enter a resting period and spend the summer months in hidden parts of the plant until the next rainy season.

Adult ( Fig. 29). General color of female pinkish, of male brownish orange; Face, occiput, thorax, legs and ventral part of abdomen covered by white scales, much denser in female than in male; dorsal part of female abdomen with three black patches on each segment, forming three lines along dorsum; dorsal part of abdomen in male brownish, with sparse cover of white scales. Head ( Fig. 38): Gap between eyes on vertex 0–1 facets wide. Flagellomeres about as long as wide, with 1 whorl of circumfila. Palpus minute, about as long as wide; labella absent.

Thorax: Wing length 0.98–1.39 mm in females (n=52), 0.78–1.58 mm in males (n=60).

Female abdomen ( Figs 40, 41): Sternite 8 with small patch of pigmented area. Cercal segment in slight obtuse angle relative to segment 9; lateral plate relatively short. Aculeus long and narrow, with 3–4 long, erect, apically hooked setae immediately proximal to sickle-shaped section. Apical lamella ovoid to triangular, slightly longer than aculeus, clearly extending beyond aculeus dorsally.

Male abdomen: Pigmented part of tergite 8 greatly reduced or pigmentation very weak. Aedeagus truncate, without apical notch ( Fig. 43).

Larva. Unknown.

Pupa ( Figs 46, 47). As in genus description.

Holotype: ♀, Israel: Enot Zuqim Nature Reserve [31 ° 42'53.85"N 35°27'6.45"E], 2.ii.2014, N. Dorchin & G. Danon, reared from Suaeda fruticosa leaf. Mounted on permanent microscope slide in Euparal (SMNHTAU).

Paratypes: Israel: From Suaeda fruticosa : 4♀ 5♂, same data as holotype ; 1♂, Lido junction, 1.4 km W, Rt. 1, 31.i.1995, N. Dorchin ; 2♀ 4♂, En Gedi , Rt. 90, 13.ii.1996, N. Dorchin ; 5♀ 1♂, Lido junction, 1.4 km W, Rt. 1, 11.iii.1996, N. Dorchin ; 1♀ 1♂, Lido junction, 1.4 km W, Rt. 1, 7.xi.1996, N. Dorchin ; 4♀ 4♂, Lido junction, 1.4 km W, Rt. 1, 2.i.2013, G. Danon ; 6♀ 8♂, Lido junction, 1.4 km W, Rt. 1, 13.ii.2013, G. Danon ; 2♂, Lido junction, 1.4 km W, Rt. 1, 20.i.2014, G. Danon ; 3♀ 5♂, En Gedi reservoir, Rt. 90, 2.ii.2014, N. Dorchin & G. Danon ; 1♀, Zohar junction, 2.ii.2014, G. Danon ; 3♀ 3♂, Nahal Zruya , Rt. 90, 16.ii.2014, G. Danon ; 5♀ 5♂, Nahal Mor , Rt. 90, 16.ii.2014, G. Danon ; 3♀ 3♂, Zohar junction, 2.iii.2014, G. Danon .

From Suaeda aegyptiaca : 3♀ 4♂, Yafit, Rt. 90, 17.iv.1996, N. Dorchin; 4♀ 1♂, Pazael, Rt. 90, 17.iv.1996, N. Dorchin; 1♂, Enot Zuqim Nature Reserve , 7.iv.2013, G. Danon .

Other material examined: Jordan: 1♀, Wadi Assal , 6.vi.2014, G. Danon, ex Suaeda aegyptiaca (GenBank accession no. MN207638 ) .

Distribution: Israel and Jordan, along the central rift valley.

Remarks: Females of S. quotidiana are easily distinguishable from those of its three congeners (all unique to Suaeda monoica ) by its more slender aculeus and the cylindrical to triangular apical lamella of the cercal segment. By contrast, the aculeus in all three species from S. monoica is thicker and shorter, and their apical lamella is near rectangular (compare Figs 41 and 42). Furthermore, S. quotidiana is generally smaller and more delicate than the species from S. monoica and its males have a much sparser and duller scale pattern on the abdomen compared to the distinct black-and-white pattern of its congeners.