Prodiplosis hirsuta Kolesik sp. nov., a new species of gall midge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) feeding on shoot tips of Jatropha (Euphorbiaceae) in South America

Abstract

A gall midge, Prodiplosis hirsuta Kolesik sp. nov., is described whose larvae feed on shoot tips of Jatropha gossypiifolia and Jatropha clavuligera in Paraguay and Bolivia. Morphology and the mitochondrial COI gene sequence of the new species are given. Field survey and preliminary no‐choice host specificity tests showed that the host plant range of P. hirsuta is confined to J. gossypiifolia and J. clavuligera. The apparent host specificity and the damage potential make P. hirsuta a prospective candidate for biological control of J. gossypiifolia in Australia.