''Rabdophaga strobilina'' is a

gall midge Cecidomyiidae is a family of flies known as gall midges or gall gnats. As the name implies, the larvae of most gall midges feed within plant tissue, creating abnormal plant growths called galls. Cecidomyiidae are very fragile small insects us ...

and inquiline of '' Rabdophaga rosaria'' and '' Rabdophaga terminalis''; also gall midges. It was first described by Johann Jacob Bremi-Wolf in 1847.

Description

''Rabdophaga rosaria'' forms ''Camellia'' galls (also known as a terminal rosette gall) on

willow Willows, also called sallows and osiers, from the genus ''Salix'', comprise around 400 speciesMabberley, D.J. 1997. The Plant Book, Cambridge University Press #2: Cambridge. of typically deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist s ...

(''Salix'') species. ''R. strobilina'' is a close relative of ''R. rosaria'' and the larva of ''strobilina'' live under the modified leaves of the galls made by ''rosaria'' larva. If there are many larva of ''strobilina'', the gall can enlarge and change shape from a rosette, into a 30–40 mm long cone-shaped artichoke. ''R. strobilina'' is also an inquiline of ''Rabdophaga terminalis''.

Distribution

The insect or gall has been found in Belgium, Denmark, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

References

External links

Plant Parasites of Europe
strobilina Nematoceran flies of Europe Gall-inducing insects Insects described in 1847 Taxa named by Johann Jacob Bremi-Wolf Willow galls {{Bibionomorpha-stub