''Neuroterus albipes'' is a

gall wasp Gall wasps, also incorrectly called gallflies, are hymenopterans of the family Cynipidae in the wasp superfamily Cynipoidea. Their common name comes from the galls they induce on plants for larval development. About 1,300 species of this gener ...

that forms chemically induced leaf galls on

oak An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' (; Latin "oak tree") of the beech family, Fagaceae. There are approximately 500 extant species of oaks. The common name "oak" also appears in the names of species in related genera, notably ''L ...

trees which has both bisexual and agamic generations and therefore forms two distinct galls, the smooth spangle gall and Schenck's gall.Darlington, Page 162 ''Neuroterus laeviusculus'' and ''Spathegaster albipes'' are previous binomials found in the literature.

Galls

The normally cream coloured saucer of the smooth spangle gall has a small cone elevated in its centre, a pronounced rim and they are sometimes found almost folded in two. The gall may have streaks of purple, red or other colours through it. Typically found on the lower surface, this gall is found more often on the upper surface than other spangle galls and although often grouped together, the numbers on each leaf are far fewer than in species such as '' Neuroterus quercusbaccarum''. The gall is observed to swell appreciably once it has detached and fallen in late autumn. The gall has also been recorded as green, purple, red or pink. Schenck's gall is an oval shaped structure, about 0.1 × 0.2 cm and a light green colour, well camouflaged with the leaf lamina. A distinct indentation of the lamina margin is apparent through the inhibition of the normal growth of the leaf by the developing gall; the gall may also appear on the midrib.Stubbs, Page 48 Both galls are both unilocular and unilarval.

Life cycle

Eikennapjesgal Neuroterus albipes forma laeviusculus-levelsadjust-mask

Agamic generation

Emerging in spring the female of the agamic generation develops in the discus-shaped structure about 0.4 cm across, known as a 'Smooth Spangle gall'. The gall falls to the ground in autumn, having developed in June or July of the previous summer.

Bisexual generation

The females emerge from the smooth spangle gall in early spring and the lay their unfertilised eggs in oak leaves, usually in the margin of the leaf blades, forming the so-called 'Schenck's gall.' This second ''N. albipes'' gall is hairy to start with and smooth later; not all that obvious and growing as a solitary structure. Schenck's gall produces the bisexual generation in mid-summer and the eggs result in the Smooth Spangle gall generation.Darlington, Page 163

Inquilines

The fly '' Clinodiposis galliperda'' is often found as an

inquiline In zoology, an inquiline (from Latin ''inquilinus'', "lodger" or "tenant") is an animal that lives commensally in the nest, burrow, or dwelling place of an animal of another species. For example, some organisms such as insects may live in the h ...

within the agamic 'smooth spangle gall' generation.

References

Notes

Sources

* Darlington, Arnold (1975) ''The Pocket Encyclopaedia of Plant Galls in Colour.'' Pub. Blandford Press. Poole. . * Stubbs, F. B. Edit. (1986) ''Provisional Keys to British Plant Galls''. Pub. Brit Plant Gall Soc. .

External links

N. albipes
* Neurotus albipes flies {{Taxonbar, from=Q7002709 Cynipidae Gall-inducing insects Hymenoptera of Europe Insects described in 1863 Oak galls