| Contarinia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Contarinia pseudotsugae | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Cecidomyiidae |
| Tribe: | Cecidomyiini |
| Genus: | Contarinia Rondani, 1860 |
| Type species | |
| Tipula loti De Geer, 1776 | |
| Synonyms | |
List
| |
Contarinia is a genus of midges, small flies in the family Cecidomyiidae. There are over 300 described species in the genus. [1]
As cecidomyiids, adult Contarinia are flies with hairy wings and long antennae. Males have antennal flagellomeres equally binodose, with each node surrounded by one circumfilum. The palpi are four-segmented. The tarsal claws of the legs are simple. The wing costal vein is interrupted after its union with the radius or third vein. [2]
The genus was erected by Rondani and commemorate the naturalist Nicolò Bertucci Contarini. [3]
Many species of Contarinia have herbivorous larvae that attack inflorescences, fruits, or buds of plants. [2] They include a number of crop pests, such as C. nasturtii (attacks various parts of cruciferous plants), [4] C. citri (attacks flowers of citrus), [5] C. pisi (attacks flower buds of legumes), [6] C. caryafloralis (attacks inflorescences of Chinese hickory) [7] and C. pruniflorum (attacks flower buds of stone fruits). [8]
Two species of Contarinia are the main insects to visit inflorescences of Artocarpus integer (and possibly other plants). They are attracted by "a fruit-like, somewhat unpleasant smell" produced by the inflorescences. The adult midges feed on mycelia of Choanephora fungus (thus they are fungivorous, not herbivorous), which infects the male inflorescences, and females also oviposit in male inflorescences. Midge larvae hatch from the eggs, develop while also feeding on the fungus, pupate and then emerge from male inflorescences. Female inflorescences are not infected by the fungus and so cannot be used by the midges to breed, but they still attract Contarinia midges. The midges are known to carry pollen, so they are believed to pollinate A. integer - a pollination mutualism mediated by a pathogenic fungus. [9]
The following species are recognised in the genus Contarinia: [10] [1]
Cecidomyiidae is a family of flies known as gall midges or gall gnats. As the name implies, the larvae of most gall midges feed within plant tissue, creating abnormal plant growths called galls. Cecidomyiidae are very fragile small insects usually only 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) in length; many are less than 1 mm (0.039 in) long. They are characterised by hairy wings, unusual in the order Diptera, and have long antennae. Some Cecidomyiids are also known for the strange phenomenon of paedogenesis in which the larval stage reproduces without maturing first. In some species, the daughter larvae consume the mother, while in others, reproduction occurs later on in the egg or pupa.
The Cecidomyiinae, commonly known as gall midges or gall gnats, is the largest subfamily in Cecidomyiidae with over 600 genera and more than 5000 described species. This subfamily is best known for its members that induce galls on plants, but there are also many species that are fungivores, parasitoids, or predators as maggots.
Mayetiola are a genus of flies from the family Cecidomyiidae. Most species are pests of cereal crops.
Rabdophaga is genus of flies in the family of gall midges Cecidomyiidae. There are 105 species distributed through Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. Most species of Rabdophaga gall willows ; one exception is R. giraudiana which galls the stems of poplars.
Schizomyia is a genus of gall midges. It has a cosmopolitan distribution.
Cecidomyiini is a tribe of gall midges in the family Cecidomyiidae. There are at least 220 described species in Cecidomyiini.
Asphondylia is a cosmopolitan genus of gall midges in the family Cecidomyiidae. All species in this genus induce galls on plants, especially on flowers and flower buds. There are over 300 described species in Asphondylia, with many more likely to be discovered and described, especially in the southern hemisphere.
Alycaulini is a tribe of gall midges, insects in the family Cecidomyiidae. There are about 20 genera and at least 200 described species in Alycaulini.
Parallelodiplosis is a genus of gall midges, insects in the family Cecidomyiidae. There are at least 20 described species in Parallelodiplosis.
Resseliella is a genus of gall midges in the family Cecidomyiidae. There are at least 50 described species in Resseliella.
Micromyinae is a subfamily of wood midges, insects in the family Cecidomyiidae. Its members were formerly included in subfamily Lestremiinae. There are at least 55 genera and more than 650 described species in Micromyinae. All species in this subfamily are mycophageous.
Winnertziinae is a subfamily of gall midges and wood midges in the family Cecidomyiidae.
Janetiella is a genus of gall midges in the family Cecidomyiidae. There are at least thirty described species.
Dicrodiplosis is a genus of gall midges in the family Cecidomyiidae. There are about 15 described species in Dicrodiplosis.
Winnertzia is a genus of gall midges and wood midges in the family Cecidomyiidae. There are more than 90 described species in Winnertzia.
Porricondylinae is a subfamily of gall midges and wood midges in the family Cecidomyiidae.
