Massalongia rubra is a species of gall midge which forms galls in the leaves of birch.[1] It was first described by the French naturalist and entomologist, Jean-Jacques Kieffer in 1890 and is found in Europe.[1]
| Massalongia rubra | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Cecidomyiidae |
| Genus: | Massalongia |
| Species: | M. rubra
|
| Binomial name | |
| Massalongia rubra (Kieffer, 1890)
| |
Description of the Gall
editAn elongate, woody swelling (up to 10 mm long) of the mid-rib of a leaf which can extend into the base of lateral veins and the petiole. The gall is more prominent on the underside of the leaf and is initially green, later red-purple and brown. Sometimes the gall is surrounded by a green island on a yellowing leaf. Each gall contains a single larve which are white or yellowish when young and red when mature, with a weak sternal spatula.[2] Mature larva leave the gall in late summer to hibernate and pupate in the soil. Adults emerge in the following spring or summer.[3]
Affected trees are silver birch (Betula pendula) and downy birch (Betula pubescens).[4]
Distribution
editMassalongia rubra has been recorded from Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Sweden.[4][5][6]
References
edit- ^ a b R.J. Gagne; M. Jaschof (2021). A Catalog of the Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) of the World (5th ed.). ISBN 978-0-9863941-3-3. Wikidata Q109561625.
- ^ Redfern, Margaret; Shirley, Peter; Boxham, Michael (2011). British Plant Galls (Second ed.). Shrewsbury: Field Study Council. pp. 52–6. ISBN 978-185153-284-1.
- ^ Chinery, Michael (2011). Britain's Plant Galls. Old Basing, Hampshire: WildGuides Ltd. p. 37. ISBN 978-190365743-0.
- ^ a b Elis, W N. "Massalongia rubra (Kieffer, 1890)". Plant Parasites of Europe. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
- ^ " Massalongia rubra (Kieffer, 1890)". BioLib. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
- ^ "Massalongia rubra (Kieffer 1890)". EOL. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
 | This article related to members of the fly superfamily Sciaroidea is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |