Besbicus maculosus, formerly Andricus maculosus and Cynips maculosa, also known as the pear gall wasp, is an uncommon species of cynipid wasp that induces galls on oak trees on the west coast of North America.[1] The wasp oviposits on leather oak and scrub oak leaves.[1] Fresh galls are green.[1] This wasp has been observed in California.[2]

Besbicus maculosus
Butte County, California, 2023
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Cynipidae
Genus: Besbicus
Species:
B. maculosus
Binomial name
Besbicus maculosus
(Kinsey, 1929)
Synonyms
  • Cynips maculosa
  • Cynips maculosus
  • Andricus maculosus

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Russo, Ronald A. (2021). Plant Galls of the Western United States. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press. p. 125. doi:10.1515/9780691213408. ISBN 978-0-691-21340-8. LCCN 2020949502. OCLC 1239984577. S2CID 238148746.
  2. ^ "Pear Gall Wasp (Andricus maculosus)". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
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