Amphibolips quercusinanis

Amphibolips quercusinanis, known generally as the larger empty oak apple wasp, is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae.[1][2]

Amphibolips quercusinanis
Gall made by Amphibolips quercusinanis on oak leaf
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Cynipidae
Genus: Amphibolips
Species:
A. quercusinanis
Binomial name
Amphibolips quercusinanis

Ecology

Range is central and eastern North America. Larvae induce galls on the leaves of host red oaks, including Quercus coccinea and Quercus rubra. [3] Gall formation occurs on host leaf buds in the spring. [4]

Galls are apple-sized, up to 2" in diameter, with a bumpy, hairless, spotted texture.[3] Internally, the larva resides in a central chamber with radiating white fibers called nutritive tissue which feed the larva with nutrients supplied by the host. As the gall matures its external color changes from green to brown. After the adult wasp emerges, the gall becomes brittle and "empty" when the nutritive fibers disintegrate.[4]

  • external mature gall
    external mature gall
  • internal empty gall
    internal empty gall


References
  1. Felt, Ephraim Porter (1917). "Key to American Insect Galls". New York State Museum Bulletin. 200: 95-97.
  2. "Amphibolips quercusinanis Species Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2019-09-13.
  3. "Amphibolips quercusinanis (sexgen)". Gallformers.
  4. Joe Boggs (May 21, 2018). "Apples Don't Fall Far from the Oak Tree". Buckeye Yard and Garden onLine. The Ohio State University.
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