| Rabdophaga rosaria | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Stem gall caused by Rhabdophaga rosaria | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Cecidomyiidae |
| Genus: | Rabdophaga |
| Species: | R. rosaria |
| Binomial name | |
| Rabdophaga rosaria (H. Loew, 1850) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Rabdophaga rosaria is a gall midge which forms Camellia galls or terminal rosette gall on willow species. [1] [2] It was first described by Hermann Loew in 1850.
Willows are extremely susceptible to gall induction and growth manipulation and Salix is one of the plant genera with the highest known numbers of associated galler species. [3]
Rabdophaga rosaria is probably a group of closely related, unnamed species, possibly each restricted to one species of willow. Galls should be recorded as R rosaria and the host plant should also be recorded. [4]
The gall consists of from thirty to sixty leaves, [2] shortened and crowded together in rosettes on white willow (S. alba), crack willow (S. fragilis), goat willow (S. caprea) and purple willow (S. purpurea) willows as well as the eared sallow (S. aurita) and grey sallow (S. cinerea). [1] The oviposition of this species results in a chemical interaction that halts the lengthwise growth of infected willow shoots, the leaves however continue to develop and thus the characteristic "rose" forms at the tip of the affected shoot. [3]
Rabdophaga rosaria is found on willow branches and the gall diameter depends upon the species, being larger on Salix caprea at 8 centimetres (3.1 in) than on Salix alba at 3 cm (1.2 in). The development in the United Kingdom begins in May / June with leaf expansion and reaches maturity in August / September while the leaves are still green. The gall becomes brown and remains on the tree over winter until it is forced off by new growth in spring. [1] [2]
Each rosette contains a single pinkish-coloured larva which, unusually, pupates within the gall. Rabdophaga strobilina is closely related and is an inquiline of R. rosaria. One or more larva live under the modified leaves of the rosette and depending on the number of strobilina they can change the shape of the gall from a rosette to a 30–40 mm long cone-shaped artichoke. [4] A common inquiline is another gall midge, Perrisia iteophila and the gall mite Eriophyes marginatus often appears on Camellia galls. [5]
A 2020 study which analysed the COI gene of mitochondrial DNA extracted from Rabdophaga larvae that induce rosette galls on Salix in the Holarctic Region showed that R. rosaria could be divided into 2 clades, 1 and 2, and the latter further divided into subclades 2A and 2B. Clade 1 consists of populations on Salix species of section Cinerella in subgenus Vetrix in Georgia and the UK, subclade 2A contains populations on Salix alba (section Salix, subgenus Salix) in The Netherlands and the UK, and subclade 2B consists of populations on section Helix in Poland, Phylicifoliae in Alaska, and Salix species in the Eastern Palaearctic Region. [6]
Rabdophaga rosaria is widely distributed throughout the United Kingdom and is locally common. [1] It is abundant in Finland.[ citation needed ]
Media related to Rabdophaga rosaria at Wikimedia Commons
Salix caprea, known as goat willow, pussy willow or great sallow, is a common species of willow native to Europe and western and central Asia.
Synanthedon flaviventris, the sallow clearwing, is a moth of the family Sesiidae. The larvae form pear-shaped galls on sallows.
Rabdophaga clavifex is a gall midge which forms galls on the buds of willow species.
Rabdophaga strobilina is a gall midge and inquiline of Rabdophaga rosaria and Rabdophaga terminalis; also gall midges. It was first described by Johann Jacob Bremi-Wolf in 1847.
Rabdophaga strobilina is a gall midge which forms galls on the buds of some species of willow. It was first described by Hermann Loew in 1850.
Rabdophaga iteobia is a gall midge which forms galls on the buds of willow species.
Rabdophaga heterobia is a species of gall midges which has two generations a year and forms galls on almond willow. It was first described by Hermann Loew in 1850.
Rabdophaga jaapi is a species of gall midges which forms galls on creeping willow.
Rabdophaga rosariella is a species of gall midge which forms galls on sallows. It was first described by Jean-Jacques Kieffer in 1897.
Rabdophaga saliciperda is a species of gall midges which forms galls on willows. It was first described by Léon Jean Marie Dufour in 1841.
Rabdophaga salicis is a gall midge which forms galls on sallows. It was first described by Franz von Paula Schrank in 1803.
Rabdophaga karschi is a gall midge which forms galls on the twigs of sallows.
Rabdophaga dubiosa is a gall midge which forms galls on the young shoots of willow.
Rabdophaga pierreana is a gall midge which forms galls on the young shoots of willow. It was first described by Jean-Jacques Kieffer in 1909.
Dasineura auritae is a gall midge which forms galls on the leaves of sallows and their hybrids. It was first described by Ewald Heinrich Rübsaamen in 1916.
Rabdophaga marginemtorquens is a gall midge which forms galls on willows and is found in Europe. It was described by Johann Jacob Bremi-Wolf in 1847.
Rabdophaga clausilia is a gall midge which, depending on the source, forms galls on the leaves of willows, or is an inquiline living in the galls of a Rabdophaga species, or a predator. It was first described by Johann Jacob Bremi-Wolf in 1847.
Rabdophaga nervorum is a gall midge which forms galls on the leaves of sallows. It is found in Europe and was first described by the French entomologist, Jean-Jacques Kieffer in 1895.
Iteomyia capreae is a gall midge which forms galls on willows. It was first described by Johannes Winnertz in 1853.
Euura bridgmanii is a species of sawfly belonging to the family Tenthredinidae. The larvae feed on the leaves of sallows. It was first described by the entomologist Peter Cameron in 1883.