Biology and Taxonomy of Two Gall Midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) Found in Galls on Balsam Fir Needles with Description of a New Species of Paradiplosis

Abstract

The life cycle and seasonal biology is described for 2 associated cecidomyiids in needle galls of balsam fir. One species, Paradiplosis tumifex Gagne, n. sp., is responsible for the gall; the other, Dasincura balsamicola (Lintner), is an inquiline that enters the newly forming gall and eventually indirectly kills the larva of P. tumifex . Characters for the separation of the 2 species are given. The new species is described and illustrated and compared with its 4 congeners. Agevillea Hubault is a new junior synonym of Paradiplosis Felt.