Careopalpis lanceocercis 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 : 124

Careopalpis lanceocercis Dorchin , n. sp.

( Figs 32, 34, 37)

LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A1D85CA9-33EC-4E24-978C-138016F7401B .

Etymology: The name lacneocercis refers to the typical lanceolate shape of the apical lamella of the female ovipositor.

Description: Similar to C. latita except the following.

Gall and biology. This species develops without any external signs in leaves or young stems of Suaeda asphaltica and occasionally S. fruticosa . Its presence in the plant becomes apparent only after adult emergence, when empty pupal exuviae are found stuck in the plant. Adults were reared from the two host plants during winter and early spring (December–March), representing the activity season of these plants. In other times of the year S. asphaltica is unavailable for the midges because its above-ground parts are completely dry, and S. fruticosa is apparently not suitable as a host given that the other cecidomyiids associated with it in Israel ( Dasyneuriola prolifica and Suaediola quotidiana ) also use it only in winter. C. lanceocercis must complete several generations during winter, and larvae of the last generation probably spend the summer diapausing in or on the plant until the next winter.

Adult. Thorax: Wing length 1.10–1.73 mm in female (n=25), 1.09–1.83 mm in male (n=26).

Female abdomen ( Figs 32, 34): Ovipositor: Apical lamella fusiform, relatively slender, widest past proximal third or at mid-length.

Holotype: ♀, Israel: Mizpe Yeriho , 1 km E, Rt. 1, sea level [31°48'00.47"N 35°24'11.08"E], 2.ii.2014, N. Dorchin & G. Danon, reared from Suaeda asphaltica leaf. Mounted on permanent microscope slide in Euparal (SMNHTAU).

Paratypes (all from Suaeda asphaltica ): Israel: 4♀ 11♂, 2 exuviae (on one slide), same data as holotype ; 2♀, Nabi Musa , 15.i.1997, N. Dorchin ; 2♀, Mizpe Yeriho , 1 km E, Rt. 1, sea level, 9.ii.2012, N. Dorchin ; 3♀, 1♂, Nabi Musa , 16.ii.2014, G. Danon ; 1♀, Mizpe Yeriho , 1 km E, Rt. 1, sea level, 2.iii.2014, G. Danon ; 2♀ 3♂, Nabi Musa , 16.iii.2014, G. Danon ; 3♀ 3♂, Nahal Havarim , En Ovdat Nature Reserve, 25.xii.2015, N. Dorchin; 1 exuviae , 1♂, Mizpe Yeriho , 29.xii.2016, N. Bonda; 3 exuviae (on two slides) , 3♀ 2♂, Mizpe Yeriho , 3.i.2017, N. Bonda; 1 exuviae , 1♂, Nabi Musa , 17.i.2017, N. Bonda; 2 exuviae , 1♀ 1♂, Mizpe Yeriho , 1.ii.2017, N. Keidar .

Distribution: Israel: Judean Desert (on S. asphaltica ) and central Rift Valley (on S. fruticosa ). Probably also occurs in Jordan on the same host plants.

Remarks: Careopalpis lanceocercis differs from the other three Careopalpis species in Israel (all from Suaeda spp. ) by the fusiform, more slender shape of the apical lamella of the female ovipositor. For comparison with non-Israeli species see the remarks section under C. latita . Although C. latita and C. lanceocercis are found in similar habitats along the central rift valley, our data suggest that adults of C. latita are found year-round, whereas those of C. lanceocercis are active only in winter. This disparate phenology is probably dictated by the phenology of the respective host plants, namely the suitable conditions for the development of C. latita in summer on S. aegyptiaca but their lack thereof for C. lanceocercis on S. asphaltica and S. fruticosa . This ecological factor may account for the sympatric existence of distinct species even when sharing a common host plant.