Taxonomy and Life History of Gall Midges (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) on Drosanthemum and Malephora (Aizoaceae) in South Africa
| dc.contributor.advisor | Dorchin, Netta | |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Colville, Jonathan | |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Hoffmann, John Hugh | |
| dc.contributor.author | Van Munster, Stephany | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2021-09-16T12:44:44Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2021-09-16T12:44:44Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2021 | |
| dc.date.updated | 2021-09-16T12:43:29Z | |
| dc.description.abstract | South Africa is known for its highly endemic and remarkably species-rich fauna and flora. The Greater Cape Floristic Region, consisting of the Cape Floristic Region and the Succulent Karoo Region, is home to South Africa's second most diverse plant family, the Aizoaceae. While the Aizoaceae are relatively well studied, there has been little work done on their associated insect fauna. Preliminary observations in recent years revealed a diverse community of gall midges on these plants. This study aimed to investigate the gall midges associated with two speciose genera of Aizoaceae and it is the first of its kind in South Africa. I report five new species of gall midges, three belonging to Asphondylia Loew and two to Lasioptera Meigen. These species are described from several species within the Aizoaceae genera Drosanthemum Schwantes and Malephora N.E.Br., and additional host records were recorded from Lampranthus N.E.Br., Carpobrotus N.E.br., Acrodon N.E.Br., Cephalophyllum Haw. and Jordaaniella H.E.K. Hartmann. The gall midges are described from adults, pupae and larvae and information is provided on their galls, life history and distribution. Morphological attributes of the gall midges support the description of five distinct species. Furthermore, morphological characters of the Lasioptera species described here do not fit entirely with those of the genus, suggesting that a new genus should be established for them. These results provide a mere snapshot of the gall midge diversity that is to be found on Aizoaceae in southern Africa, and much work is still to be done on the Cecidomyiidae of South Africa as a whole. Further targeted sampling may reveal greater distribution ranges and additional host plants for the five species described here, as well as many more undescribed species across the Aizoaceae. | |
| dc.identifier.apacitation | Van Munster, S. (2021). <i>Taxonomy and Life History of Gall Midges (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) on Drosanthemum and Malephora (Aizoaceae) in South Africa</i>. (). ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33962 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.chicagocitation | Van Munster, Stephany. <i>"Taxonomy and Life History of Gall Midges (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) on Drosanthemum and Malephora (Aizoaceae) in South Africa."</i> ., ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 2021. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33962 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.citation | Van Munster, S. 2021. Taxonomy and Life History of Gall Midges (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) on Drosanthemum and Malephora (Aizoaceae) in South Africa. . ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33962 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.ris | TY - Master Thesis AU - Van Munster, Stephany AB - South Africa is known for its highly endemic and remarkably species-rich fauna and flora. The Greater Cape Floristic Region, consisting of the Cape Floristic Region and the Succulent Karoo Region, is home to South Africa's second most diverse plant family, the Aizoaceae. While the Aizoaceae are relatively well studied, there has been little work done on their associated insect fauna. Preliminary observations in recent years revealed a diverse community of gall midges on these plants. This study aimed to investigate the gall midges associated with two speciose genera of Aizoaceae and it is the first of its kind in South Africa. I report five new species of gall midges, three belonging to Asphondylia Loew and two to Lasioptera Meigen. These species are described from several species within the Aizoaceae genera Drosanthemum Schwantes and Malephora N.E.Br., and additional host records were recorded from Lampranthus N.E.Br., Carpobrotus N.E.br., Acrodon N.E.Br., Cephalophyllum Haw. and Jordaaniella H.E.K. Hartmann. The gall midges are described from adults, pupae and larvae and information is provided on their galls, life history and distribution. Morphological attributes of the gall midges support the description of five distinct species. Furthermore, morphological characters of the Lasioptera species described here do not fit entirely with those of the genus, suggesting that a new genus should be established for them. These results provide a mere snapshot of the gall midge diversity that is to be found on Aizoaceae in southern Africa, and much work is still to be done on the Cecidomyiidae of South Africa as a whole. Further targeted sampling may reveal greater distribution ranges and additional host plants for the five species described here, as well as many more undescribed species across the Aizoaceae. DA - 2021 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Biological Sciences LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2021 T1 - Taxonomy and Life History of Gall Midges (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) on Drosanthemum and Malephora (Aizoaceae) in South Africa TI - Taxonomy and Life History of Gall Midges (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) on Drosanthemum and Malephora (Aizoaceae) in South Africa UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33962 ER - | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33962 | |
| dc.identifier.vancouvercitation | Van Munster S. Taxonomy and Life History of Gall Midges (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) on Drosanthemum and Malephora (Aizoaceae) in South Africa. []. ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 2021 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33962 | en_ZA |
| dc.language.rfc3066 | eng | |
| dc.publisher.department | Department of Biological Sciences | |
| dc.publisher.faculty | Faculty of Science | |
| dc.subject | Biological Sciences | |
| dc.title | Taxonomy and Life History of Gall Midges (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) on Drosanthemum and Malephora (Aizoaceae) in South Africa | |
| dc.type | Master Thesis | |
| dc.type.qualificationlevel | Masters | |
| dc.type.qualificationlevel | MSc |