The oak gall wasps of Israel (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae, Cynipini) - diversity, distribution and life history
Author
Shachar, Einat
Author
Melika, George
Author
Inbar, Moshe
Author
Dorchin, Netta
text
Zootaxa
2018
2018-11-16
4521
4
451
498
journal article
27950
10.11646/zootaxa.4521.4.1
832ac35c-8871-4041-9321-ea7f2ae5eb41
1175-5326
2610021
A4FD6137-25B0-43D5-845B-B4FDF4E9F5D7
Neuroterus anthracinus
Curtis, 1838
Host plants.
Israel
:
Q. boissieri
,
Q. ithaburensis
.
Elsewere: mostly on oaks from section
Quercus
but also on species from section
Cerris
.
Life history.
Both generations are known but in
Israel
only the asexual generation was found so far. It induces single-chambered leaf galls which constitute small, ovoid sturctures,
1.5–3 mm
long and up to
2 mm
wide, wrapped between two thin, wing-like extensions (
Figs 31
,
66
). They are yellow to green and shiny when young, and develop purple or red dots as they mature and then drop from the leaf, leaving the ‘wings’ behind. The sexual generation develops in single-chambered, lateral or terminal bud galls, usually gregarious (2–6 galls in one group), rounded or slightly ovate,
2 mm
long and
1.5 mm
in diameter when mature, green or yellowish, smooth, often with distorted leaves attached to the side or tip of the gall.
Phenology.
Galls of the asexual generation appear in late August, mature by September, drop to the ground, and adults emerge from them the following spring. Galls of the sexual generation develop rapidly in Europe and adults emerge from them in May-June.
Distribution.
Israel
: Widespread and common throughout the distribution range of
Q. boissieri
. Elsewhere: Common and locally abundant throughout most of Europe to Crimea,
Turkey
and
Iran
.
Comments.
Sternlicht (1968b)
referred to this species as
Andricus ostreus
, a name that was later synonymized under
Neuroterus anthracinus
(
Pujade-Villar
et al.
1998
)
.