Lasioptera arundinis Schiner, 1854
on Phragmites
Phragmites australis, France, dép. Somme, Frise, 23.i.2023 © Sébastien Carbonelle: opened gall with larva and the remarkably elongated cocoons
larva, compared with a larva of Microlasioptera flexuosa (below).
Phragmites australis, Weert, Wijffelterbroek, 19.ix.2019 © Carina Van Steenwinkel: galled lateral shoot
galled stem, after removal of the leaf sheaths
larvae in their gall chambers
larvae
Phragmites australis, Belgium, prov. Namur, Virelles, Pré de Fagne © Sébastien Carbonnelle: lateral shoot
Phagmites australis, Denmark © Simon Haarder: galled lateral shoot
the internodes are strongly shortened
larvae in the pith that is coloured brown by fungus
larva ventral, with spatula
exuvium
gall
the larvae live exclusively in lateral shoots, that have been formed after the main shoot has been damaged by some external cause. The lateral shoot is shortened en somewhat thickened, the leaves are densely overlapping. The result is a more or less fusiform obliquely ascending gall of 15-30 cm. The pith is brownish black, caused by a fungus that is associated with the midge. In the pith lie a number of chambers, each with a pale redddish yellow larva or a pupa. Univoltine.
host plants
Poaceae, monophagous
Phragmites australis.
larva
Phragmites australis, France, dép. Somme, Frise, 23.i.2023 © Sébastien Carbonelle: spatula of Lasioptera hungarica (at left) and L. arundinis with lengthened and elongated central element, and recurved lateral elements.
spatula (from Kieffer, 1901a)
prosternum with spatula (from Möhn, 1955a)
synonyms
Thomasiella arundinis.
notes
Lasioptera species and relatives are dependent on the symbiotic fungus Radulidium subulatum.
references
Baetens & De Bruyn (1999a), Buhr (1965a), Dauphin & Aniotsbehere (1997a), Gagné (2010a), de Vere Graham & Gijswijt (1998a), Haarder, Bruun, Harris & Skuhravá (2016a), Houard (1908a), Kieffer (1901a), Nartshuk (2011a), Redfern & Shirley (2011a), Rohfritsch (1992a, 2008a), Roskam (2009a), Roskam & Carbonnelle (2015a), Sánchez (2016a), Schwarzländer & Häfliger (2000a), Simova-Tošić, Skuhravá & Skuhravý (2000a), Skuhravá (2006a), Skuhravá & Skuhravý (1977a, 1992a, 1997b, 1999a, 2002a, 2008a, 2011a. 2021a: 179), Skuhravá, Skuhravý, Dauphin & Coutin (2005a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý, Dončev & Dimitrova (1991a, 1992a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý & Ebejer (2002a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý & Meyer (2014a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý, Skrzypczyńska & Szadziewski (2008a), Skuhravý (1975a), Waitzbauer, Pruscha & Picher (1972a).