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 quercusbaccarum
Linnaeus, 1758
Host plant.
Israel
:
Q. boissieri
. Elsewhere: several species from section
Quercus
.
Life history.
The sexual generation induces the largest catkin galls on oaks in
Israel
. These are fleshy, spherical galls, up to
8 mm
in diameter, smooth, shiny, light green with purple ‘veins’ and single-chambered (
Fig. 27
). The asexual generation induces dome-shaped leaf galls, up to
6 mm
in diameter, with a pointed central projection, single-chambered, usually in clusters (
Fig. 35, 36A
). When young, the galls are pale green, sometimes covered by very short, reddish hairs, turning pink as they mature.
Phenology.
Galls of the asexual generation appear in August, drop from the leaves in November-December and adults emerge from them in March. Galls of the sexual generation appear in March and adults emerge from them in April-May.
Distribution.
Israel
: Known from galls of both generations throughout the distribution range of
Q. boissieri
. Elsewhere: Common and widespread from Northwestern Africa to
Norway
,
Russia
and
Iran
.
Comments.
Galls of the asexual generation are similar to those of
Neuroterus tricolor
Hartig
in Europe but the latter are spherical rather than dome-shaped and do not have a central pointed projection.