Identification of gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) intercepted under plant quarantine inspection at Japanese sea- and airports from 2000 to 2005

Abstract

Gall midge pests (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) intercepted under plant quarantine inspection at Japanese sea- and airports from 2000 to 2005 were identified based on the morphological features of full-grown larvae and adults. We identified the following 17 species from 13 plant genera: Contarinia maculipennis Felt on Dendrobium phalaenopsis (Orchidaceae) imported from Thailand and Singapore, Contarinia sp. 1 on Brunia (Bruniaceae) from South Africa, Contarinia sp. 2 on Berzelia (Bruniaceae) from South Africa, Contarinia sp. 3 on Alstroemeria (Alstroemeriaceae) from Australia and New Zealand, Contarinia sp. 4 on Azadirachta (Meliaceae) from Thailand, Contarinia sp. 5 on Juniperus (Cupressaceae) from Turkey, Dasineura sp. 1 on Pinus (Pinaceae) from China, Dasineura sp. 2 on Eurya (Theaceae) from China, Monarthropalpus flavus (Laboulbène) on Buxus sempervirens (Buxaceae) from Italy, Resseliella sp. 1 on Juniperus from Turkey, Resseliella sp. 2 on Protea (Proteaceae) from South Africa, Schizomyia sp. on Caustis (Cyperaceae) from Australia, Thecodiplosis sp. on Pinus from China, Asphondyliina gen. sp. on Eurya from China, Cecidomyiini gen. sp. 1 on Eurya from China, Cecidomyiini gen. sp. 2 on Ischyrolepis (Restionaceae) from South Africa, and Schizomyiina gen. sp. on Cotinus (Anacardiaceae) from Italy. The monthly interception frequency of gall midges associated with Brunia was significantly correlated with the number of imported Brunia cut flowers in different months, but the interception frequencies of gall midges associated with Dendrobium and Eurya were not correlated with the number of imported host plants. Gall midges associated with Pinus were frequently intercepted in December when a huge number of Pinus twigs were imported, while no significant correlation was detected between the interception frequency of gall midges and the number of imported Pinus twigs based on data from January to November.