Amphibolips nubilipennis

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Amphibolips nubilipennis
Translucent Oak Gall.jpg
The translucent oak gall, induced by the sexual generation of Amphibolips nubilipennis.
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Cynipidae
Genus: Amphibolips
Species:
A. nubilipennis
Binomial name
Amphibolips nubilipennis
Harris, 1841

Amphibolips nubilipennis, known generally as the translucent oak gall wasp, is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae. Its range includes Ontario, Quebec, and much of the eastern United States. [1] [2] Hosts include Quercus buckleyi , Quercus coccinea , Quercus falcata , Quercus ilicifolia , Quercus imbricaria, Quercus marilandica , Quercus rubra , and Quercus velutina . [3]

The translucent oak gall is induced by the sexual generation of Amphibolips nubilipennis. [3] This gall is succulent and accumulates high concentration of malic acid causing a low pH of gall tissues. The extreme acidity of the translucent oak gall tissues has been proposed to represent a defensive strategy against parasitoid wasps. [4]

References

  1. "Species Amphibolips nubilipennis – Translucent Oak Gall Wasp". bugguide.net. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  2. "translucent oak gall wasp Amphibolips nubilipennis Harris, 1841". www.invasive.org. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Amphibolips nubilipennis (sexgen)". www.gallformers.org. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  4. Guiguet, Antoine; McCartney, Nathaniel B.; Gilbert, Kadeem J.; Tooker, John F.; Deans, Andrew R.; Ali, Jared G.; Hines, Heather M. (1 March 2023). "Extreme acidity in a cynipid gall: a potential new defensive strategy against natural enemies". Biology Letters. 19 (3) 20220513. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2022.0513. ISSN   1744-957X. PMC   9975648 . PMID   36855854. S2CID   257233541.