Taxonomy of Aciurina trixa Curran (Diptera: Tephritidae) and its life history on Chrysothamnus nauseosus (Pallas) Britton in southern California; with notes on A. bigeloviae (Cockerell)

Publication Type:

Journal Article

Authors:

Headrick, David H.; Goeden, Richard D.; Teerink, Jeffrey A.

Source:

Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, The Entomological Society of Washington, Volume 99, Issue 3, p.415-428 (1997)

Call Number:

A97HEA01IDUS

URL:

http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16213086#page/429/mode/1up

Keywords:

Aciurina bigeloviae, Aciurina trixa, Chrysothamnus nauseosus, tephritid

Abstract:

Aciurina trixa Curran is reinstated as a valid taxon and distinguished from A. bigeloviae (Cockerell) with which it had been synonymized. The immature stages of A. trixa also are described in detail. This tephritid is univoltine and monophagous on Chrysothamnus nauseosus (Pallus) Britton. Adults emerge in early spring and lay eggs singly in axillary buds on the current season’s branches. First instars eclose in ca. 1 week and tunnel basipetally along a vascular trace into a branch. Gall growth begins during the first larval stadium and continues through the spring and summer. Gall growth was complete by late fall when most branch tunnels and galls contain second instars. Second instars continue to feed in the branch tunnels and begin excavating the gall lumen. Larval growth proceeds through the fall, and by December most galls contain third instars. Third instars confined most of their feeding to the gall, typically filling the branch tunnel with packed frass. Puparia were first observed in mid-February. Pupariation took place within the gall lumen and lasted ca. 2 weeks. Adult females were proovigenic and mated shortly after emergence and repeatedly.