Discovery of a new gall-inducing species, Aciurina luminaria (Insecta, Diptera, Tephritidae) via multi-trait integrative taxonomy

By

Baine, Quinlyn
White, Branden
Martinson, Vincent G.
Martinson, Ellen O.

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2024

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

1214

Pages

217--236

Subjects

Bigeloviae , candle , ddRAD , Ericameria , flame , marshmallow , nauseosa , rabbitbrush , tephritid , trixa , Wing

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1214.130171

 

Abstract

Integrative taxonomic practices that combine multiple lines of evidence for species delimitation greatly improve our understanding of intra- and inter-species variation and biodiversity. However, extended phenotypes remain underutilized despite their potential as a species-specific set of extracorporeal morphological and life history traits. Primarily relying on variations in wing patterns has caused taxonomic confusion in the genus Aciurina, which are gall-inducing flies on Asteraceae plants in western North America. However, species display distinct gall morphologies that can be crucial for species identification. Here we investigate a unique gall morphotype in New Mexico and Colorado that was previously described as a variant of that induced by Aciurina bigeloviae (Cockerell, 1890). Our analysis has discovered several consistent features that distinguish it from galls of A. bigeloviae. A comprehensive description of Aciurina luminaria Baine, sp. nov. and its gall is provided through integrative taxonomic study of gall morphology, host plant ecology, wing morphometrics, and reduced-representation genome sequencing.