Intertidal insects associated with halophytic Suaeda (Amaranthaceae) in Japan: a case study in Saga, northern Kyushu.

In contrast to a great diversity in insects in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems, few known species have adapted to inhabit marine environments. In this study, we surveyed insects associated with halophytic plants of Suaeda (Amaranthaceae) distributed in intertidal zones, in northern Kyushu, Japan. On four Japanese native species of Suaeda, we found insects belonging to five orders and 18 species. Amongst them, the genus Clanoneurum (Diptera: Ephydridae) and Coleophoradeviella (Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae) were newly reported from Japan; and Orthotylus (Melanotrichus) parvulus (Hemiptera: Miridae) was newly recorded from Kyushu. The seasonal occurrence of several insects on Suaeda is reported.

Terrestrial arthropods broadly possess endogenous phytohormones auxin and cytokinins.

Some herbivorous insects possess the ability to synthesize phytohormones and are considered to use them for manipulating their host plants, but how these insects acquired the ability remains unclear. We investigated endogenous levels of auxin (IAA) and cytokinins (iP and tZ), including their ribosides (iPR and tZR), in various terrestrial arthropod taxa. Surprisingly, IAA was detected in all arthropods analysed. In contrast, tZ and/or tZR was detected only in some taxa. Endogenous levels of IAA were not significantly different among groups with different feeding habits, but gall inducers possessed significantly higher levels of iPR, tZ and tZR. Ancestral state reconstruction of the ability to synthesize tZ and tZR revealed that the trait has only been acquired in taxa containing gall inducers. Our results strongly suggest critical role of the cytokinin synthetic ability in the evolution of gall-inducing habit and IAA has some function in arthropods.

Three new species of Ametrodiplosis (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) from Japan, with a key to the Japanese species and a molecular phylogenetic analysis.

Ametrodiplosis Rübsaamen (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae: Clinodiplosini) is a mostly Holarctic gall midge genus whose species are associated with a wide range of seed plant families, either as gall-inducers or inquilines. In this study, we describe three species of Ametrodiplosis from Japan: A. adetos n. sp. feeding in the flowers of Tylophora aristolochioides Miq. (Apocynaceae); A. aeroradicis n. sp. inducing aerial root galls on Trachelospermum asiaticum (Sieb. et Zucc.) Nakai and T. gracilipes var. liukiuense (Apocynaceae); and A. stellariae n. sp. forming leaf bud galls on Stellaria uliginosa Murray var. undulata (Thunb.) Ohwi (Caryophyllaceae). A molecular phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial COI and ribosomal 16S genes and nuclear ribosomal 28S gene were conducted for the three new Ametrodiplisis species and other clinodiplosine taxa sequences available in GenBank. The analysis supported the monophyly of Ametrodiplosis despite the variable life history of the three species. In addition, it indicated very low intraspecific genetic divergence among the individuals from different localities and/or host plants. A taxonomic key to the three new Japanese species of Ametrodiplosis is provided.

A new species of Pseudasphondylia (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) associated with Magnolia kobus DC. var. borealis Sarg. (Magnoliaceae) in Japan.

BACKGROUND: A gall midge species (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) inducing leaf bud galls on Magnolia kobus DC. var. borealis Sarg. (Magnoliaceae) was found in Hokkaido and northern Honshu, Japan. NEW INFORMATION: Based on its morphology, the species is regarded as an undescribed species of the genus Pseudasphondylia Monzen (Cecidomyiinae, Cecidomyiidi, Asphondyliini). The species is herein described as Pseudasphondylia saohimea Matsuda, Elsayed and Tokuda sp. n. The new species is easily distinguishable from its congeners by the number of adult palpal segments and the shape of the male terminalia and larval spatula.

Revision of the birch-associated genus Massalongia (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae), with description of a new species from Japan and a taxonomic key to worldwide species.

Betula (Betulaceae), or birch, is a Holarctic genus of trees and shrubs whose species have ornamental, industrial, and medical importance. Gall midges of the genus Massalongia (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae: Cecidomyiidi) are exclusively associated with birches in the Palearctic region. In 2018, an undescribed Massalongia species was discovered forming leaf galls on the midveins of B. grossa on Mount Tara, Saga Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan. In this study the species is described as M. nakamuratetsui Elsayed & Tokuda, sp. nov., and a DNA barcode provided for it. The other known species of Massalongia are redescribed because the original descriptions are outdated and insufficient. A lectotype is designated for M. bachmaieri. In addition, the monotypic genus Apagodiplosis, containing A. papyriferae associated with B. papyrifera in the Nearctic region, is synonymized here under Massalongia, resulting in M. papyriferae comb. nov., rendering Massalongia a Holarctic genus with six species. Comparing the sequence data of M. nakamuratetsui with all sequences available in The Barcode of Life Data (BOLD) system supports the occurrence of Massalongia in the Nearctic region and suggest that more species could be discovered there. Massalongia species form leaf or bud galls, and their mature larvae drop to the ground in autumn and overwinter in characteristic waterproof bottle-like cocoons, which is possibly a protective adaptation for pupation in wet and snowy lands. A taxonomic key to all Massalongia species is provided.

Two new species of Schizomyia (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) from Japan, with an updated key to larval, pupal and adult Schizomyia in Japan.

Two new species of Schizomyia Kieffer (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae: Asphondyliini: Schizomyiina) are reported from Japan. Schizomyia broussonetiae Elsayed Tokuda n. sp. forms hairy globular leaf galls on the paper mulberry Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) Vent. (Moraceae) and S. uechiae Elsayed and Tokuda n. sp. induces red flower bud galls on the porcelain berry Ampelopsis glandulosa var. brevipedunculata (Maxim.) Momiy. (Vitaceae). Morphological features of larvae, pupae and adults of the new species are described, illustrated and compared in detail to several other Schizomyia species. An updated taxonomic key to known Japanese species of Schizomyia is provided.

Pseudasphondylia tominagai, a new gall midge species (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) inducing flower bud galls on Eleutherococcus spinosus (Araliaceae) in Japan.

BACKGROUND: The genus Pseudasphondylia (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae: Asphondyliini: Asphondyliina) comprises ten Palearctic, Oriental and Australian species associated with various hosts belonging to at least ten plant families. NEW INFORMATION: A new species, Pseudasphondylia tominagai Elsayed & Tokuda n. sp., that induces flower bud galls on Eleutherococcus spinosus (L.f.) S.Y.Hu (Araliaceae) is described. This species is considered to alternate between host plants seasonally. A key to males of known Pseudasphondylia species is provided.

A taxonomic revision and molecular phylogeny of the eastern Palearctic species of the genera Schizomyia Kieffer and Asteralobia Kovalev (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae, Asphondyliini), with descriptions of five new species of Schizomyia from Japan.

The genus Asteralobia (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae, Asphondyliini, Schizomyiina) was erected by Kovalev (1964) based on the presence of constrictions on the cylindrical male flagellomeres. In the present study, we examine the morphological features of Asteralobia and Schizomyia and found that the male flagellomeres are constricted also in Schizomyiagaliorum, the type species of Schizomyia. Because no further characters clearly separating Asteralobia from Schizomyia were observed, we synonymize Asteralobia under Schizomyia. Molecular phylogenetic analysis strongly supports our taxonomic treatment. We describe five new species of Schizomyia from Japan, S.achyranthesae Elsayed & Tokuda, sp. n., S.diplocyclosae Elsayed & Tokuda, sp. n., S.castanopsisae Elsayed & Tokuda, sp. n., S.usubai Elsayed & Tokuda, sp. n., and S.paederiae Elsayed & Tokuda, sp. n., and redescribe three species, S.galiorum Kieffer, S.patriniae Shinji, and S.asteris Kovalev. A taxonomic key to the Japanese Schizomyia species is provided.

A new genus and a new species of Schizomyiina (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae: Asphondyliini) inducing petiole galls on Macaranga bancana (Miq.) in Borneo, Malaysia.

We describe a gall midge Macarangamyia itiokai Elsayed Tokuda gen. n., sp. n. belonging to the subtribe Schizomyiina (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae: Asphondyliini) inducing petiole galls on Macaranga bancana (Miq.) in Lambir Hills National Park, Borneo, Malaysia. The new genus is distinguishable from all known genera of Schizomyiina by the unique dorsally-placed aedeagus slit, the short, membranous, protrusible ovipositor, with scattered strong setae ventrally and dorsally, and the presence of spiracles on all larval thoracic segments. It is compared and separated from its closely related Oriental genera of Schizomyiina.

New records and new species of gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) developing on Chenopodiaceae in Egypt.

The Cecidomyiidae (Diptera: Bibionomorpha) fauna of Egypt is poorly known. Investigations in northern Egypt in 2013 revealed the presence of seven species of gall midges on three host plant species: Atriplex halimus L., Arthrocnemum macrostachyum (Moric.) and Suaeda pruniosa Lange (all Chenopodiaceae). Among the gall midges, Baldratia salicorniae  Kieffer and Stefaniella trinacriae De Stefani are reconfirmed records in Egypt; Houardiella gracilis Dorchin & Freidberg and Asphondylia punica Marchal are new records; and Baldratia karamae Elsayed & Skuhraván. sp. , Primofavilla aegyptiaca Elsayed n. sp. and Stefaniella skuhravae Elsayed n. sp. are new to science. Adult morphology of the latter three new species is described and illustrated, and their biology and geographic distribution are given.