Lasioptera javanica Kieffer & Docters van Leeuwen-Reijnvaan

Kolesik, Peter & Gagné, Raymond J., 2020, A review of the gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) of Indonesia: taxonomy, biology and adult key to genera, Zootaxa 4847 (1), pp. 1-82 : 35-36

Lasioptera javanica Kieffer & Docters van Leeuwen-Reijnvaan

[ Figs 18 a–b]

Lasioptera javanica Kieffer & DvLR, 1910: 123 .

Type series. Kieffer & DvLR (1910) collected larvae and reared the type male and female from a stem gall [ Fig. 18a ] on Zehneria maysorensis (Wight & Arn.) Arn. (as Melothria perpusilla Cogn. ) in Java [likely at Salatiga]. The types are presumed lost ( Gagné & Jaschhof 2017).

Description (from Kieffer & DvLR 1910 (changed to fit current terminology)). Adult. Palpus 4-segmented, first segment as long as wide, second slightly longer than wide, third and fourth about 2.5x longer than wide. Antenna with 24 flagellomeres, flagellomeres without constriction. Wing with vein R 5 longer than half-length of wing, nearly 2x as long as R 1, M 4 and Cu 1 forming fork, the branches longer than base; anterior wing edge, R 1, R 5 covered with black scales, distal end of R 5 with white spot. Tarsal claws toothed, as long as empodia.

Male. Flagellomeres slightly shorter than wide. Terminalia: hypoproct not appreciably longer than cerci, narrow, rounded terminally, slightly shorter than aedeagus, aedeagus shorter than gonocoxites.

Female. Length 1.5 mm. Flagellomeres without necks. Ovipositor long, protractible.

Pupa unknown.

Larva. Length 2 mm. Orangey yellow. Spatula dark brown; anterior part as long as wide, with two short blunt teeth; shaft 3x longer than anterior part.

Remarks. The species description is essentially generic and cannot be improved upon until galls are found again.

Biology. This species causes a stem gall on Zehneria maysorensis (Wight. & Arn.) Arn. (Cucurbitaceae) . The gall is a several centimeters-long swelling of the young stem, petiole and occasionally leaf midrib (DvLR & DvL (1909a, Fig. 8 [ Fig. 18a ]), DvLR & DvL (1926, gall No. 1497, Fig. 1061 [ Fig. 18b ]). Inside are several larval chambers, each containing fungal mycelium and a single larva that pupates in the gall. Adults emerge in July.

Remarks. Additionally, DvLR & DvL (1926, gall No. 1496, Fig. 1060) described a globular flower gall, containing orange larvae, from Java (Salatiga, alt. 600 m, i-1909; Bandung, alt. 700 m, v-1918, Telaga Warna, near Mt Gede, alt. 1400 m, ix-1923) and Kayuadi Island, Selayar archipelago (v-1913), which they attributed to this species (as Prolasioptera javanica Kieffer & Docters van Leeuwen-Reijnvaan ). Adults need to be reared to confirm this latter species’ identity, and we are not associating the gall with L. javanica here.

Geographical distribution. This species is known from Java and Selayar Island, South Sulawesi province (DvLR & DvL (1926). Java: Salatiga , alt. 600 m, i-1909; Cinyiruan, near Bandung, alt. 1600 m, vi-1910; Mt Ungaran , alt. 1000 m, x-1910; Plabuan, near Weleri, alt. 2 m, viii-1912; Mt Muria , alt. 300 m, x-1912; Kamojang, near Garut, alt. 1500, xii-1915; Mt Slamet , alt. 2000 m, v-1918. Selayar Island : Bitombang, alt. 400 m, v-1913.

Figures

FIGURES 8a–i. Asphondylia vitea: a–b, galls on Cayratia trifolia from the Philippines (Figs VIII-4 & VIII-6 of Uichanco (1919)); c, gall on C. trifolia from Indonesia (Fig. 636 of DvLR & DvL (1926)); d, palpus; e, first tarsomere; f, male terminalia (dorsoposterior); g, 6th male flagellomere (only part of circumfila visible in type specimen); h, wing; i, tarsal claw of front leg with empodium. Insect drawings made from types reared in the Philippines.

FIGURES 18a–b. Lasioptera javanica: a, galls on Zehneria maysorensis (Fig. 8 of DvLR & DvL 1909a); b, same (Fig. 1061 of DvLR & DvL (1926)). Arrows indicate galled tissue.