2007,pp - Società Siciliana di Scienze Naturali

Gall midges (Diptera Cecidomyiidae) of Sicily
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1827). VACANTE & FIRULLO (1983), VACANTE (1985) and COLOMBO et al.
(1993) propose to use larvae of F. acarisuga for biological control of red spider
mites in Sicilian greenhouses. Occurrence: COLOMBO et al. (1993) made
their trials in Ragusa, LONGO et al. (2001) report occurrence of this species
from the Etna region. Distribution: widespread in Europe and occurring in
other parts of the world.
Geocrypta galii (H. Loew, 1850)
Larvae cause swellings on stems of various species of Galium L. (Rubiaceae)
(Pl. V, Fig. 27). Two generations develop per year. Fully grown larvae
leave galls, fall to the ground and pupate in the soil. Occurrence: DE STEFANI
(1901, 1902, 1905a, 1906c) found in May galls of this species in Palermo and
its surroundings (Mt. Pellegrino) on Galium pallidum Presl., G. cinereum All.
and G. saccaratum L.; he also recorded it (as Cecidomyine) on G. saccaratum
on Pantelleria Is. in March and April. Distribution: Euro-Siberian, occurring
up to Kazakhstan.
Gephyraulus diplotaxis (Solinas, 1982)
Larvae cause flower bud galls on Diplotaxis muralis D.C. (Brassicaceae).
SOLINAS (1982) described this species from material collected in Bari. Flower
bud galls on Diplotaxis crassifolia L. were found in Enna (formerly Castrogiovanni),
1000 m a.s.l., in May 1893 by H. Ross (MASSALONGO & ROSS,
1898) and the causer was identified as “Cecidomyidarum spec.”. Comparison
of the spatula sternalis of the larva figured in MASSALONGO & ROSS (1898)
with figures published by SOLINAS (1982) consents to establish that they are
the same species. Probably also finding of DE STEFANI jr (1942), described as
a hypertrophy on the flowers of Diplotaxis harra Boiss. [= D. crassifolia
(Rafin.)] and D. crassifolia from Enna, it is caused by this species. Distribution:
Mediterranean.
Hartigiola annulipes (Hartig, 1839)
Larvae produce cylindrical usually densely haired galls on leaves of
Fagus sylvatica L. (Fagaceae) (Pl. I, Fig. 6). Each gall contains one single larva.
Only one generation develops in a year. Larvae remain in galls that separate
from leaves in the autumn. Larvae hibernate in galls fallen on the ground and
pupate there in spring. Occurrence: DE STEFANI (1912) found galls at Bosco
Dragonara on Madonie Mts. (1400 m) and identified them as “Oligotrophus
sp.” Recently galls are quite common on Madonie, Nebrodi and Etna Mts. up
to 1800 m. Distribution: European, found also in Turkey (SKUHRAVÁ et al.,
2005).