Flower-inhabiting native gall flies (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) in New Zealand

Authors

  • Nicholas Martin

Abstract

While Cecidomyiidae are commonly called gall flies, their larvae may have a variety of feeding habits, as predators, detritivores, fungal feeders and herbivores. Most of those that live on higher plants are associated with galls that they induce. In New Zealand there are 14 named species that feed on plants, of which seven are indigenous. However, there are probably over 150 unnamed gall inducing species. In addition to these, some species have larvae that live in flower buds and flowers and do not appear to induce galls. Larvae of some species that live in flowers also feed on developing seeds.

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Published

2014-12-01

How to Cite

[1]
Martin, N. 2014. Flower-inhabiting native gall flies (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) in New Zealand. The Wētā. 48, (Dec. 2014), 3–7.

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Articles