Trichoteras vacciniifoliae

Trichoteras vacciniifoliae, formerly Andricus vacciniifoliae,[1] the golden oak apple wasp, is a species of gall-forming hymenopteran. The wasp creates a stem gall[2] on host plants, namely huckleberry oaks and canyon live oaks.[3] Andricus vacciniifoliae is native to the west coast of North America.[4] Because of their colorful appearance and location on the plant, the galls are often mistaken for fruit.[5] The larval chamber is at the center of the gall, connected to the husk by slender, radiating fibers.[1]

Trichoteras vacciniifoliae
Plumas County, 2023
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Cynipidae
Subfamily: Cynipinae
Tribe: Cynipini
Genus: Trichoteras
Species:
T. vacciniifoliae
Binomial name
Trichoteras vacciniifoliae
(Ashmead, 1896)

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Russo, Ronald A. (2021). Plant Galls of the Western United States. Princeton University Press. p. 143. doi:10.1515/9780691213408. ISBN 978-0-691-21340-8.
  2. ^ Asquith, Nancy (2020-11-21). "CALIFORNIA OAK GALLS". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  3. ^ "Species Andricus vacciniifoliae - Golden Oak Apple Wasp". bugguide.net. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  4. ^ "Andricus vaccinifoliae (agamic)". www.gallformers.org. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  5. ^ Russo, Ron (December 2009). "Confessions of a Gall Hunter" (PDF). Natural History Magazine. pp. 20–25 – via californiaoaks.org.