Two new species of Dasineura (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) from the Neotropics and new morphological data on Dasineura tavaresi

ABSTRACT Two new species of Dasineura Rondani, 1840 from Brazil are described and illustrated based on specimens from the Entomological Collection of Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (MNRJ): D. capsicicola sp. nov. and D. microstachysae sp. nov. The former attacks bud flowers of Capsicum annuum L. (Solanaceae), a plant economically important, commonly known as sweet pepper and the latter induces leaf galls on Microstachys corniculata (Vahl.) Griseb. (Euphorbiaceae), both plant species native to Brazil. Dasineura capsicicola, has 12-13 flagellomeres in male, 12-14 in female and 8th tergite divided longitudinally, pupa with long apical setae, long prothoracic spiracle, and dorsal spines present on the second to eighth abdominal segments, larva with two-toothed spatula without lateral projections. Dasineura microstachysae, has 15 flagellomeres in male, 14-15 in female, pupa with dorsal spines on the second to eighth abdominal segments, and larval spatula without prominent teeth. The new gall midges are compared with other congeneric Brazilian species and a key to segregate them is presented. Furthermore, the male of Dasineura tavaresi Maia, 1996 is described for the first time and label data from the holotype are corrected herein.