Druon quercuslanigerum is a species of gall wasp that forms galls on Quercus virginiana, Quercus geminata, Quercus fusiformis, and Quercus oleoides. There are both asexual and sexual generations. The asexual generation forms galls on the leaves whereas the sexual generation forms galls on the catkins. It can be found in the southern United States and Mexico.[1] Predators of this species include the green parakeet.[2]
| Druon quercuslanigerum | |
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| Asexual gall of Druon quercuslanigerum on Quercus virginiana | |
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| Sexual gall of Druon quercuslanigerum on Quercus virginiana catkin | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Cynipidae |
| Genus: | Druon |
| Species: | D. quercuslanigerum
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| Binomial name | |
| Druon quercuslanigerum (Ashmead, 1881)[1]
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| Synonyms | |
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Taxonomy
editDruon quercuslanigerum was first described in 1881 by William Harris Ashmead, as part of the genus Cynips, but moved the species to the genus Andricus four years later. In 2022, it was moved to the re-established genus Druon.[3]
Description
editThe asexual generation gall consists of an inner capsule of mature galls with a woolly covering, typically appearing on the underside of leaves along the mid-vein. A mature gall measures 1.0–7.0 mm in diameter and 2–3 mm high. The woolly covering varies from creamy white to yellowish-white when older, and the inner capsule is light brown. The galls can appear singly or in clusters of three to six galls.[1]
The sexual generation galls form on catkins in the spring. They appear as a small (~1 mm) ovate swelling of the central stem of the catkin.[1]
The asexual generation female is reddish-brown and measures 2-2.5 mm, while the smaller sexual female is dark-red brown to black and measures 1.4–2.1 mm in length. The sexual generation male, similar in coloration to the female, measures 1.2–1.6 mm in length.[1]
Life history
editUpon emerging from catkin galls in mid-March to early April, the sexual generation mates and lays eggs in the mid-rib of new leaves. The woolly galls develop from mid to late summer through the fall and winter, with asexual females emerging from September through February. This emergence period coincides with catkin bud production, where the asexual females lay their eggs. The emergence period of the asexual generation is approximately ten times longer than that of the sexual generation.[1]
Gallery
edit-
Druon quercuslanigerum asexual female -
Druon quercuslanigerum sexual female -
Druon quercuslanigerum sexual female ovipositing into a leaf mid-rib
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Hood, Glen R; Zhang, Linyi; Topper, Leah; Brandão-Dias, Pedro F P; Del Pino, Gaston A; Comerford, Mattheau S; Egan, Scott P (30 April 2018). "'Closing the Life Cycle' of Andricus quercuslanigera (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae)". Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 111 (3): 103–113. doi:10.1093/aesa/say005. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ Alexander, Charles (2016). "GREEN PARAKEETS FEEDING ON WOOL-BEARING GALL WASP LARVAE (ANDRICUS QUERCUSLANIGERA)" (PDF). Bulletin of Texas Ornithological Society. 49 (1–2): 100–102. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ Cuesta-Porta, Victor; Melika, George; Nicholls, James A.; Stone, Graham N.; Pujade-Villar, Juli (2 May 2022). "Re-establishment of the Nearctic oak cynipid gall wasp genus Druon Kinsey, 1937 (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini), with description of five new species". Zootaxa. 5132 (1): 1–92. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5132.1.1. PMID 36101114.