Gall-midge Larvae as Endoparasites, including the Description of a Species parasitising Aphids in Trinidad, B.W.I.

Abstract

A review of the available information concerning gall midges as endoparasites shows that only three species in two genera have been described.Endaphis perfidus Kieffer is a parasite of apterous Drepanosiphum platanoides (Schr.) (Aphididae) in Lorraine and England. Although on several occasions larvae of Endaphis sp. have been found in England, the Netherlands and Germany parasitising other Aphids, practically no information additional to that supplied by Kieffer has beeen published. In only one instance besides E. perfidus has the adult midge been reared and figured, i.e., Endaphis (cf. perfidus Kieffer) in Macrosiphum jaceae (L.) on Carduus in Germany.Endopsylla agilis de Meijere is a parasite of winges Psylla foersteri Flor (Psyllidae) in the Netherlands. The bionomics of what is almost certainly the same species, parasitising P. mali race peregrina Foerst. on hawthorn (also P. pyricola Foerst. and P. melanoneura Foerst.) and P. mali (Schmidb.) on apple, respectively, have been studied in Scotland and Germany.Endopsylla endogena (Kieffer) was found parasitising the larva of Stephanitis pyri (F.) (Tingidae) in Portugal but has not been recorded again.A fourth species, Pseudendaphis maculans, gen. et sp. n., that parasitises various Aphids in Trinidad, has now been described.Indications are given of the whereabouts of any existing types or other specimens of all the known endoparasitic gall midges.