Andricus, Hartig, 1840

Shachar, Einat, Melika, George, Inbar, Moshe & Dorchin, Netta, 2018, The oak gall wasps of Israel (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae, Cynipini) - diversity, distribution and life history, Zootaxa 4521 (4), pp. 451-498 : 469

Andricus sp. nr. quercusradicis ( Fabricius, 1798)

Host plants. Israel: Q. ithaburensis ; Elsewhere: Mainly oaks from section Cerris (sexual generation) and from both Cerris and Quercus sections (asexual generation).

Life history. Both the sexual and asexual generations are known. The sexual generation induces singlechambered, usually aggregated leaf galls on Q. ithaburensis , which are cryptic swellings of the main leaf vein, up to 3 mm in width ( Fig. 65 ). The asexual generation develops in woody, thick-walled multi-chambered root galls on Q. ithaburensis that are 3–10 cm in diameter when mature ( Sternlicht 1968b, Fig.1 ).

Phenology. This species has a two-year lifecycle. Galls of the sexual generation develop in spring and adults emerge from them in September-October ( Sternlicht 1968b). In Europe adults emerge in August-September and some may emerge the following year ( Melika 2006b). The root galls of the asexual generation develop in the second year of the lifecycle. They mature in September and adults overwinter in them and emerge the following spring.

Distribution. Israel: En Zivan, Mezar, Tiv’on, Hadera. Elsewhere: widespread in Europe and Northwest Africa to Transcaucasia and Asia Minor.

Comments. The identity of this species could not be established with confidence because no adults were reared from the galls. Based on the morphology of the galls and the available data on its life history, we assume that it is related to A. quercusradicis , although that species is known from oaks in section Quercus whereas the galls in Israel are found on oaks from section Cerris.

Figures

FIGURES 65–70. Galls on various Quercus species. 65. Andricus sp. nr. quercusradicis, sexual generation on leaf of Quercus ithaburensis; 66. Neuroterus anthracinus, asexual generation on Quercus ithaburensis; 67. Andricus multiplicatus, sexual generation on Quercus libani; 68. Andricus melikai, sexual generation on Quercus libani; 69. Andricus sp. nr. amenti, sexual generation on Quercus libani; 70. Cerroneuroterus sp. nr. lanuginosus, asexual generation on Quercus libani.

FIGURES 1–4. Cynipid collection sites on oaks in Israel. 1. Q. libani and Q. cerris. 2. Q. boissieri. 3. Q. ithaburensis. 4. Q. calliprinos. Numbers correspond to the following collection sites: 1. Mt. Hermon, 1780m; 2. Mt. Hermon, 1500m; 3. Mt. Kahal; 4. Odem Forest; 5. En Zivan; 6. Allone HaBashan; 7. Tel Hazeqa; 8. Yehudiyya; 9. Mezar; 10. Mt. Meron; 11. Pa'ar cave; 12. Mt. Addir; 13. Nahal Rakefet; 14. Alonim; 15. Hosha'aya; 16. Bet Keshet Forest; 17. Rehan Forest; 18. HaSharon Forest; 19. Zur Hadassa.