Asphondylia ixora Felt

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 : 13

Asphondylia ixora Felt

[ Figs 5 a–g]

Asphondylia ixora Felt, 1927b: 388 .

Material examined. Syntypes, 2 females reared by DvL 20-v-1923 from flower galls on Ixora timorensis Decne. ( Rubiaceae ), Bokor Island, north of Jakarta, Felt #a3389), Both are in fair condition on a single slide, but their ovipositors are retracted inside the abdomen .

Description. Female. Wing length 2.6 mm (2.4–2.8), width 0.9 mm (0.8–1.0). Flagellomeres 1–9 progressively slightly shorter, 10–12 progressively much shorter, first flagellomere 6x longer than wide [ Fig. 5c ]. Palpus 3-segmented, segments progressively longer [ Fig. 5b ]. First tarsal segment with apicoventral spur slightly curved [ Fig. 5d ]. Tarsal claws strongly curved, anisomorphic, thinnest on forelegs, stout and widened at midlength on mid and hindlegs, empodia about as long as claws [ Figs 5 e–g]. Needle-like protrusible part of ovipositor 2.0x longer than seventh sternite.

Male, pupa, larva unknown.

Remarks. The anisomorphic tarsal claws are unique among known Indonesian Asphondylia .

Biology. Asphondylia ixora causes the flower gall on Ixora timorensis described and illustrated by DvLR & DvL (1926, gall No. 1433 Fig. 1016 [ Fig. 5a ]). The ovary is swollen into a sphere about 4 mm across, the surface is green and glossy, and inside is a spacious larval chamber surrounded by a succulent wall.

Geographical distribution. This species is known only from the type locality on Bokor Island , north of Jakarta, where it was collected 20-v-1923 .

Figures

FIGURES 5a–g. Asphondylia ixora: a: gall on Ixora timorensis (Fig. 1016 of DvLR & DvL (1926); arrows indicate gall (ga) and normally developed ovary (ov); b-g, female: b, palpus; c, antenna; d, first tarsal segment; e, last tarsal segment of foreleg with claw and empodium; f, same of midleg; g, same of hindleg.