Planetella gallarum (Rübsaamen, 1899), PLA

Ševčík, Jan, Hippa, Heikki, Burdíková, Nikola, Sopuch, Kryštof, Skuhravá, Marcela & Bruun, Hans Henrik, 2023, Integrative taxonomy of Central European Planetella (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) indicates high species diversity, intraspecific variation and low host specificity, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 63 (2), pp. 413-450 : 420

Planetella gallarum (Rübsaamen, 1899)

Dichrona gallarum Rübsaamen 1899a: 542 . Type locality: Germany.

Type material. SYNTYPEs: 1J 8♀♀, in alcohol, Berlin, 30.i.–12.v.1896, (vial No. 380a, coll. ZMHB Berlin), examined.

Additional material examined. DENMARK: East Jutland, Strandkaer (Biowide 060; Brunbjerg et al. 2019), 7.vi.2016, 1 J 1 ♀, reared from galls on Carex nigra var. recta, H. H. Bruun leg., specimens after DNA extraction, prepared on slides, No. PLA 6a, PLA 6b (coll. JSL-UOC). 1 larva: the same data, specimen after DNA extraction, No. PLA 6c (coll. JSL-UOC); 1 larva: West Jutland, Ejstrup (Biowide 031), 9.vi.2016, reared from gall on Carex nigra var. recta, H. H. Bruun leg., specimen after DNA extraction, prepared on slide, No. PLA 10 (coll. JSL-UOC).

Diagnosis. This species can be recognized by the short, apically blunt gonostylus, only about half as long as gonocoxite, hypoproct subrectangular and posteriorly straight, aedeagus broad and apically rounded, reaching to two thirds of gonocoxite, and gonocoxites relatively broad ( Figs 5A,B ). It belongs to the group with 12 flagellomeres, narrow eye bridge, and mostly light orange-brown coloration, without distinct dark markings.

Discussion. This species is represented in our material only by specimens from Denmark. It is interesting that we have not found it yet in the Czech Republic or Slovakia. It appears as not restricted to a single species of Carex . In the original description by RȖBsAAMEN (1899b), three different Carex species are mentioned as hosts, i.e. Carex stricta (= C. elata ), C. gracilis (= C. acuta ), C. goodenoughii (= C. nigra ). All these three Carex species are rather closely related, several of them forming hybrids. They are all part of the large Carex sect. Phacocystis , and even a smaller and tighter group within it. It is thus possible that Planetella gallarum may be specific to this group of carices.

Figures

Fig. 5. Male terminalia in ventral (A, C) and dorsal (B, D) view.A, B – Planetella gallarum (Rübsaamen, 1899) (Denmark, specimen PLA6a). C, D – P. granifex (Kieffer, 1898) (Czech Republic, specimen PLA12b). Scale 0.1 mm.