DOI: 10.1111/aen.70112 ISSN: 2052-174X
Diadiplosis queenslandi
Kolesik, sp. nov., a New Species of Gall Midge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) Predatory on Mealybug
Planococcus
Ferris, 1950 (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), a Pe
Peter Kolesik, Andrew G. Manners, Joy Conroy ABSTRACT
Larvae of a previously undescribed species of gall midge were found preying on nymphs of a mealybug infesting flower buds of blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum
in a production orchard in Queensland, Australia. Using ribosomal 28S gene segment sequence, the mealybug pest was identified as belonging to a species complex
Planococcus citri
/
P. minor
(Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). The new gall midge is named
Diadiplosis queenslandi
Kolesik,
sp. nov.
, morphology of its larvae, pupae and adults is described and a COI mitochondrial gene segment is sequenced. The new species is considered a potential natural pest control agent.