Andricus quercusstrobilanus
Species of wasp
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Andricus quercusstrobilanus, the lobed oak gall wasp, is a species[1] of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae, [2] found in North America. [3] The quercus in its specific name is the genus name for oak, while "strobilus" is derived from the Greek strobilo which means "cone", a reference to the cone shape of the gall; [4] thus the gall is sometimes called pine cone oak gall. [5]
| Andricus quercusstrobilanus | |
|---|---|
| |
| pine cone oak galls | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Cynipidae |
| Genus: | Andricus |
| Species: | A. quercusstrobilanus |
| Binomial name | |
| Andricus quercusstrobilanus (Osten-Sacken, 1862) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Description
Larvae induce a cluster of wedge-shaped galls on white oaks, including bur oak, swamp white oak, and overcup oak. [4] The galls are irregular, cone-shaped bodies [6] that are closely packed together, with their pointed bases attached to a common centre. [7] These wedges are hard and corky and break off very easily when the gall is dry. Each of them contains a hollow kernel with a plump, large larva inside. [8] The galls undergo color change from pink or red to yellow and finally to brown. [9]
Adults of the species have not been described.
Ecology
Guest wasps found in the galls include inquilines such as Synergus lignicola (Cynipidae) and parasitoids such as Eurytoma sp. (Eurytomidae).[6]
