花に隠された生物多様性：蕾利用タマバエ類の多様性と生態系機能の解明

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In Japan, about 600 sorts of galls formed by gall midges (Diptera Cecidomyiidae) are known so far after decades of intensive research, including those unidentified species. In this study, gall midges were investigated in the flowers and flower buds of 102 plants in 2022, and dozens of undescribed species were discovered for the first time on 68 host plants. The larvae of all collected species leave the host plants and drop to the ground for pupation, expect one species of which the pupa drop to the ground. When over ten larval individuals of a single species were available, the adult stage was reared to be used for species-level identification. Many species were photographed and information on the life history and interactions with other organisms (such as predators, parasitoids, and the associated mutualistic fungus) were noted. Such data will facilitate the species description based on the approach of integrative taxonomy. The tribal and generic position of most collected gall midge species was determined, and interestingly, gall midges of various tribes and supertribes were represented.The initial results of DNA analysis (based on a fragment of the mitochondrial gene COI) of the collected species indicate the majority of species are monophagous, while the remaining species are polyphagous or oligophagous sharing several host plants.