First Record of Lasioptera sp (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) Infesting Tomato in Hokkaido, Japan

Abstract

In 2010, unidentified necrosis occurred on the stems of tomato plants in a farmer's greenhouses in Yoichi, Hokkaido, Japan. In 2012, damage to the stems and fruit of tomato was detected in other farmers' greenhouses near the initial site and Niki, a neighboring town. The damaged stems and fruit contained the larvae and pupae of a cecidomyiid species whose adult and larval morphological features were indicative of Lasioptera. Infestations appeared to originate in plant parts injured by artificial bud trimming. The larvae spun cocoons and overwintered in the residue of stems under the snow. When fully grown, they reached approximately 2 mm long and were yellowish orange in body color. This is the first report of a Lasioptera species infestation of tomato plants in Japan. Further investigation, including genetic analysis, is needed to identify the cecidomyiid to the species level and to confirm if the Japanese species is identical to the Lasioptera sp. that was first found in 2001 infesting tomato and cucumber in Greece.