Identifications of Some Species of the Genus Rhopalomyia (Diptera : Cecidomyiidae) Inducing Galls on Artemisia (Asteraceae) in South Korea

Abstract

In 2003, four species of the genus Rhopalomyia (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) were collected from Artemisia species (Asteraceae) in South Korea. To indentify these species, morphological features, gall appearance, host plant species, and DNA sequence data of each species were compared with thouse of respective Rhopalomyia species that induce similar galls on Artemisia species in Japan. Three of the four South Korean Rhopalomyia species were identical with Japanese Rhopalomyia species, respectively; they are R. struma, R. yomogicola, and Rhopalomyia sp. that induces globular axillary bud galls. In the case of Rhopalomyia sp., DNA sequence data indicated that speciation could ne initiated by geographical isolation prior to host shifting. Remaining one speciesthat was collected from terminal bud galls on Artemisia capillaris in South Korea was different from the Japanese species that induces a similar gall on A. princeps and A. montana. This South Korean gall midge will be described as a nre species elsewhere in the future.