The sorghum midge complex (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae)

Abstract

Nine species of Cecidomyiid midges, including Contarinia sorghicola. (Coq.), C. andropogonis Felt, C. caudata Felt, C. palposa Blanch., Stenodiplosis sp., ? Lestodiplosis sp., Clinodiplosis sp., a species of Lasiopterariae and an undescribed species of Bifila, have been recorded from the inflorescences of cultivated sorghums (Sorghum vulgare) and related wild hosts. New morphological and other studies of this complex, involving the use of new techniques which are described, have elucidated the complex without recourse to biological testing.Contarinia, sorghicola with which C. andropogonis and C. palposa are placed in synonymy, and a new species, Stenodiplosis sorghi, here described, are the only valid species which are primary feeders on cultivated and wild species of the genus Sorghum. Contarinia caudata is a distinct species reared from the grass Apluda varia. Contarinia gambae, a second species described as new, on the basis of specimens reared from the grass Andropogon gay anus, was formerly misidentified as C. sorghicola. C. sorghicola, S. sorghi and C. gambae are described and figured in detail. A species tentatively placed in Lestodiplosis and a species of Clinodiplosis are comparatively rare and of no economic importance. The record of a species of Lasiopterariae from a wild sorghum is believed probably to have been based on a misidentification of the host, and a species previously referred to as the ‘ 3rd Bifila ’ from A. gayanus has no real connection with the sorghum midge complex.