Massalongia rubra

Massalongia rubra is a species of gall midge which forms galls in the leaves of birch.[1] It was first described by the French naturalist and entomologist, Jean-Jacques Kieffer in 1890 and is found in Europe.[1]

Massalongia rubra
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Cecidomyiidae
Genus: Massalongia
Species:
M. rubra
Binomial name
Massalongia rubra
(Kieffer, 1890)

Description of the Gall

An elongate, woody swelling (up to 10 mm long) of the mid-rib of a leaf which can extend into the base of lateral veins and the petiole. The gall is more prominent on the underside of the leaf and is initially green, later red-purple and brown. Sometimes the gall is surrounded by a green island on a yellowing leaf. Each gall contains a single larve which are white or yellowish when young and red when mature, with a weak sternal spatula.[2] Mature larva leave the gall in late summer to hibernate and pupate in the soil. Adults emerge in the following spring or summer.[3]

Affected trees are silver birch (Betula pendula) and downy birch (Betula pubescens).[4]

Distribution

Massalongia rubra has been recorded from Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Sweden.[4][5][6]

References
  1. R.J. Gagne; M. Jaschof (2021). A Catalog of the Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) of the World (5th ed.). ISBN 978-0-9863941-3-3. Wikidata Q109561625.
  2. Redfern, Margaret; Shirley, Peter; Boxham, Michael (2011). British Plant Galls (Second ed.). Shrewsbury: Field Study Council. pp. 52–6. ISBN 978 185153 284 1.
  3. Chinery, Michael (2011). Britain's Plant Galls. Old Basing, Hampshire: WildGuides Ltd. p. 37. ISBN 978 190365743 0.
  4. Elis, W N. "Massalongia rubra (Kieffer, 1890)". Plant Parasites of Europe. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  5. " Massalongia rubra (Kieffer, 1890)". BioLib. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  6. "Massalongia rubra (Kieffer 1890)". EOL. Retrieved 2 April 2021.



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