Remarks on morphology of immature stages, biology and life-cycle of Calamoncosis aprica (Meigen, 1830) (Diptera, Chloropidae)

Abstract

The egg, three larval stages and the puparium of C. aprica have been described for the first time. Each larval stage is distinctly different in size, shape of cephalopharyngeal skeleton, structure of anterior and posterior spiracles, and the distribution of spinules. The third larval stage and puparium of C. aprica were compared to the same development stages of C. minima. The most conspicuous difference in the structure of adult larvae and puparia of both species is the shape of posterior spiracles. The range of morphological features that have been taken into consideration in determining the larvae of the third stage and puparia of genus Calamoncosis was extended. The host plant for C. aprica is common reed (Phragmites australis) This dipteran develops in galls formed on tops of this plant's stems by Platycephala planifrons (Chloropidae). Information concerning the life‐cycle of C. aprica, as well as some remarks on its biology are included in this paper.

The genus Calamoncosis in the Nearctic region (Diptera: Chloropidae)

“…Most of the Nearctic specimens examined were collected in peatlands or marshes, and more species may be expected with additional sampling in other habitats, given the breadth of host plants and habitat types exploited by Calamoncosis species in the Palearctic Region. For example, multiple species in addition to C. aprica are found as inquilines of Lipara galls on Phragmites australis (Grochowska 2002) and with the likely range expansion of several species of Lipara in eastern North America, some of these inquilines may be found here in the future.…”

“…(Poaceae) (Grochowska 2002). No species of Lipara have yet been reported in association with P. australis in Quebec, but Grochowska (2002) also reported specimens of C. aprica reared from damaged plants of other species, in which they were secondary invaders associated with other herbivorous insects. Specimens of C. aprica have been reared from stems of Tripolium pannonicum (Jacq.)…”