Host associations of gall-inducing Prodiplosis longifila (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) from Bolivia: implications for its use as a biological control agent for Jatropha gossypiifolia (Euphorbiaceae)
Keywords:
Gall midge, field host range, host specificity, cryptic species, native-range survey, weed biological control,Abstract
Based on field host range and damage potential, we explored the prospects of exploiting a gall midge from Jatropha clavuligera Müll. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) in Bolivia as a “new-association” biological control agent for Jatropha gossypiifolia L. (Euphorbiaceae), a major rangeland weed in Australia. The gall midge, determined morphologically as Prodiplosis longifila Gagné (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), induces rosette galls, resulting in shoot tip dieback in J. clavuligera in Bolivia. Although P. longifila is reported to occur on a range of crops in the Neotropics, its feeding on J. clavuligera in Bolivia is strikingly different in that it induces rosette galls on its shoots. In other countries, P. longifila larvae feed on leaves, buds, flowers and fruits, with no gall symptoms. There was no evidence of P. longifila-induced galls on crop plants (reported hosts in other countries), other species of Jatropha, or other species of Euphorbiaceae in Bolivia, and in choice tests conducted in the quarantine facility in South Africa. Bolivian entomological records do not report any damage to crops by P. longifila. We propose that P. longifila in Bolivia is possibly a new species restricted to a few closely related species of Jatropha and a part of a cryptic species complex. Based on the susceptibility of J. gossypiifolia to the gall-inducing P. longifila in the field in Bolivia and in quarantine tests in South Africa, we propose that the gall-inducing P. longifila sourced from J. clavuligera in Bolivia is a potential “new-association” biological control agent for J. gossypiifolia in Australia.
Resumen
Sobre la base del rango de hospederos de campo y el potencial de daño, exploramos las perspectivas de la explotación de un mosquito de agalla de Jatropha clavuligera Müll. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) en Bolivia como un agente de control biológico de “nueva asociación” para Jatropha gossypiifolia L. (Euphorbiaceae), una importante maleza de pastizales en Australia. El mosquito de agalla, identificado morfológicamente como Prodiplosislongifila Gagné (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), induce las agallas de la roseta que dan lugar a la desintegración de la punta del brote en J. clavuligera en Bolivia. Aunque se informe que P. longifila ocurre sobre una variedad de cultivos en el Neotrópico, su alimentación en J. clavuligera en Bolivia es sorprendentemente diferente en cuanto que induce agallas de roseta en sus brotes. En otros países las larvas de P. longifila se alimentan de hojas, capullos, flores y frutos, sin síntomas de agallas. No hubo evidencia de agallas inducidas por P. longifila en plantas de cultivo (reportadas en otros países), otras especies de Jatropha y otras especies de Euphorbiaceae en Bolivia y en pruebas de selección realizadas en la instalación de cuarentena en Sudáfrica. Los registros entomológicos bolivianos no reportan ningún daño a los cultivos por P. longifila. Proponemos que P. longifila en Bolivia es posiblemente una especie nueva restringida a algunas especies estrechamente relacionadas de Jatropha y una parte de un complejo de especies crípticas. Basado en la susceptibilidad de J. gossypiifolia a la P. longifila que induce agallas en el campo en Bolivia y en las pruebas de cuarentena en Sudáfrica, proponemos que la P. longifila induce agallas procedente de J. clavuligera en Bolivia es una “nueva asociación” y un potencial agente de control biológico de J. gossypiifolia en Australia.
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