Megastigmus atedius

Megastigmus atedius (spruce seed chalcid) is a species of minute wasp that feeds on white spruce seed and cones. The damage it causes is largely undetected because the larvae complete their development hidden inside the seeds, which reveal no external indication of this.[1] Although species of Megastigmus are said to be host-specific,[1] the spruce seed chalcid found near Fairbanks, Alaska, was identified by E.H. Holsten and others in 1980[2] as M. piceae, while A.H. Rose and O.H. Lindquist [3] applied the name Megastigmus piceae, but gave the authority as Rohwer.

Megastigmus atedius
Scientific classification
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Megastigminae
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M. atedius
Binomial name
Megastigmus atedius
Walker, 1851

References

  1. Ives, W.G.H.; Wong, H.R. 1988. Tree and shrub insects of the prairie provinces. Gov’t Can., Can. For. Serv., Edmonton AB, Inf. Rep. NOR-X-292. 327 p.[Coates et al. 1994]
  2. Holsten, E.H.; Werner, R.A.; Laurent, T.H. 1980. Insects and diseases of Alaskan forests. USDA, For. Serv., Alaska Region Report No. 75, 185 p.(Cited in Coates et al. 1994).
  3. Rose, A.H.; Lindquist, O.H. 1985. Insects of eastern spruces, fir and, hemlock, revised edition. Gov’t Can., Can. For. Serv., Ottawa, For. Tech. Rep. 23. 159 p. (cited in Coates et al. 1994, cited orig ed 1977)
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