New gall midges (Diptera : Cecidomyiidae) infesting native and introduced Solanum spp. (Solanaceae) in Australia

Three new Asphondylia species are described from five Solanum species in Ne w South Wales and Queensland, Australia. Asphondylia sturtiana Kolesik sp. nov, induces a stem swelling on Solanum sturtianum F. Muell., an Australian native plant with fruits toxic to sheep and cattle, Asphondylia paucidenta ta Kolesik sp. nov, causes fruit galls on the native Solanum aviculare G. F orster and Solanum linearifolium Geras. ex Symon, and Asphondylia obscura K olesik sp. nov, causes fruit galls on Solanum chenopodioides Lam. and Solan um physalifolium Rusby var. nitidibaccatum (Bitter) Edmonds, native South A merican plants that have become weeds in Australia. The newly described gal l midges limit reproduction of their host plants.