A New Species of Gall Midge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) Damaging Ornamental Gaillardia pulchella from India

Larvae of an undescribed gall midge species were found in association with an economically important ornamental plant, Gaillardia pulchella from Belagavi district, Karnataka, India. Morphological characters of this new gall midge species have been described and named as Dasineura basavannii Vasanthakumar and Udikeri sp. nov. A segment of the Cytochrome Oxidase unit I (COI) mitochondrial gene was also sequenced. Information on important taxonomic characters is highlighted in this study. Careful monitoring and timely reporting on this new gall midge species is necessary to avoid any future outbreak.