Andricus infectorius

Andricus infectorius is a species of gall-forming wasp. The species was named by the German biologist Theodor Hartig, in 1843 and is found in Europe.

Description of the gall

The asexual generation is a 10–20 mm spherical gall, found from late-May through to October when it matures. Found on the terminal bud of a branch, it is initially green and as it matures darkens to dark brown; falling to the ground in the winter.^[1][2] The gall is found on Hungarian oak (Quercus frainetto), sessile oak (Quercus petraea), downy oak (Quercus pubescens) and pedunculate oak (Quercus robur).^[2]

Oak gall wasps often have two generations per cycle, with one sexual and one asexual; each creating different galls. According to Milan Zúbrik et al. (2013), the sexual generation of the gall is unknown, but likely to be on Turkey oak (Quercus cerris).^[1] A very small, ovoid gall on the catkins of Turkey oak may be the sexual generation.^[2]

Distribution

This species has been found in some western and central European countries but is absent from Belgium, Germany, Spain and Switzerland.^[3] It has recently been found in Great Britain. A 2013 gall found on Trengwainton Carn, near Penzance, Cornwall was initially identified as Andricus inflator. According to Dr C Leach of the British Plant Gall Society, it is more likely to be A. infectorius.^[4]

References

Andricus infectorius is een vliesvleugelig insect uit de familie van de echte galwespen (Cynipidae).^[1] De wetenschappelijke naam van de soort is voor het eerst geldig gepubliceerd in 1843 door Hartig.