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Species Asteromyia carbonifera

Representative Images

leaf spot gall vs. fungus - Asteromyia carbonifera Asteromyia carbonifera? - Asteromyia carbonifera Unid Leafminer WWsc9 - Asteromyia carbonifera Unid Leafminer Gsc1 - Asteromyia carbonifera Unid Leafminer Gsc2 - Asteromyia carbonifera Cecidomyiidae, Stiff Goldenrod, under side of leaf - Asteromyia carbonifera Fungal leaf spot - Asteromyia carbonifera Asteromyia carbonifera

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Diptera (Flies)
No Taxon ("Nematocera" (Non-Brachycera))
Infraorder Bibionomorpha (Gnats, Gall Midges, and March Flies)
Superfamily Sciaroidea (Fungus Gnats and Gall Midges)
Family Cecidomyiidae (Gall Midges and Wood Midges)
Subfamily Cecidomyiinae (Gall Midges)
Supertribe Lasiopteridi
Tribe Alycaulini
Genus Asteromyia
Species carbonifera (Asteromyia carbonifera)

Explanation of Names

Author: Osten Sacken, 1862

Range

Across North America.

Food

Goldenrod is the host plant

Life Cycle

Females lay eggs on the undersides of goldenrod leaves. Development from egg to adult takes 4-5 weeks. There are several generations per year. (1)
1. Galls, 2. Larva, 3. Pupae and adults, 4. Adult

Remarks

Induces flat, circular galls in the leaves of various goldenrods (Solidago). The galls contain a symbiotic fungus, Botryosphaeria dothidea, which the larva apparently does not eat. One to ten or more larvae develop in each gall. Color and size of the gall vary by host species and number of larvae. (1)
The fungus seems to confer some protection against parasitoid wasps. Females carry spores of the fungus.

Internet References

Ohio State U. A Very Unusual Leaf Gall. Joe Boggs.
Use of a symbiotic fungus by Asteromyia carbonifera to inhibit attack by the parasitoid Torymus capite

Works Cited

1.The Plant-Feeding Gall Midges of North America
Raymond J. Gagné. 1989. Cornell University Press.
Contributed by Charley Eiseman on 3 September, 2009 - 2:48pm
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, MJ Hatfield
Last updated 15 December, 2018 - 4:55pm

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