Plant Parasites of Europe

leafminers, galls and fungi

Lasioptera arundinis

Lasioptera arundinis Schiner, 1854

on Phragmites

Lasioptera arundinis on Phragmites australis

Phragmites australis, France, dép. Somme, Frise, 23.i.2023 © Sébastien Carbonelle: opened gall with larva and the remarkably elongated cocoons

Lasioptera arundinis on Phragmites australislarva, compared with a larva of Microlasioptera flexuosa (below).

Lasioptera arundinis: gall on Phragmites australis

Phragmites australis, Weert, Wijffelterbroek, 19.ix.2019 © Carina Van Steenwinkel: galled lateral shoot

Lasioptera arundinis: gall on Phragmites australis

galled stem, after removal of the leaf sheaths

Lasioptera arundinis: gall chambers on Phragmites australis

larvae in their gall chambers

Lasioptera arundinis: larvae

larvae

Lasioptera arundinis: galls in lateral shoot of Phragmites australis

Phragmites australis, Belgium, prov. Namur, Virelles, Pré de Fagne © Sébastien Carbonnelle: lateral shoot

Lasioptera arundinis: gall on Phragmites australis

Phagmites australis, Denmark © Simon Haarder: galled lateral shoot

Lasioptera arundinis: galled shoot

the internodes are strongly shortened

Lasioptera arundinis: opened gall

larvae in the pith that is coloured brown by fungus

Lasioptera arundinis: larva

larva ventral, with spatula

Lasioptera arundinis: exuvium

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

Lasioptera arundinis on Phragmites australis

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.

Lasioptera arundinis: spatula

spatula (from Kieffer, 1901a)

Lasioptera arundinis: spatula

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).

Last modified 30.i.2023