A Fergusonina species
| Fergusonina | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Outline | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Fergusoninidae |
| Genus: | Fergusonina Malloch, 1924 [1] |
| Type species | |
| Fergusonina microcera Malloch, 1924 | |
Fergusonina, the sole genus in the family of Fergusoninidae, are gall-forming flies. There are about 40 species in the genus, all of them producing galls on Eucalyptus , Melaleuca , Corymbia , and Metrosideros [2] species (all in the family Myrtaceae) in Australia and New Zealand.
These flies are small and their larvae grow within galls formed on the leaf, shoot or flower buds. [3] [4] [5] The galls themselves are induced by endosymbiotic nematodes in the genus Fergusobia (family Neotylenchidae) which are obligate mutualists of the flies. [3] Females carry the nematode in their haemocoel, and transport them to host plants while laying their eggs. [3] Most of the fly species are specific to their tree hosts but a few use more than one species of host. [3] [4] [5]
The taxonomic placement of Fergusoninidae is disputed. While formerly in the superfamily Opomyzoidea, a 2020 study places it within superfamily Nerioidea based on morphology, [6] while a 2021 study using transcriptome data places it in a group along with Agromyzidae and other families [7]
