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Andricus quercuscalicis
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Andricus quercuscalicis
Andricus quercuscalicis is a gall wasp species inducing knopper galls.
Knopper galls develop as a chemically induced distortion of growing acorns on pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) trees, caused by gall wasps, which lay eggs in buds with their ovipositor. The gall thus produced can greatly reduce the fecundity of the oak host, making this gall potentially more of a threat to the reproductive ability of the tree than those that develop on leaves, buds, stems, etc.
The large 2 cm gall growth appears as a mass of green to yellowish-green, ridged, and at first sticky plant tissue on the bud of the oak, that breaks out as the gall between the cup and the acorn. If only a few grubs are developing within, then it may appear only as a group of bland folds. Where several grubs are competing for space the shape may become much more contorted, with several tightly bunched galls.
The word knopper derives from the German word 'Knoppe', meaning a kind of felt cap or helmet worn during the 17th century; also a small rounded protuberance, often decorative, such as a stud, a tassel or a knob.
Although normally distinctive the knopper gall can, under some growth conditions, be mistaken for the acorn cup gall, caused by the gall wasp Andricus grossulariae.
A number of insect inquilines live harmlessly within the knopper gall and some of these, as well as A. quercuscalicis itself, are parasitised by insects referred to as parasitoids.
Andricus quercuscalicis (Burgsdorf, 1783) (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) is a small gall wasp with an obligate two-phase life-cycle that requires both pedunculate oak (Q. robur L.) (or occasionally sessile oak Q. petraea L.) and Turkey oak (Quercus cerris L.).[citation needed]
The first phase, occurs in spring in small conical galls that form on the male catkins of the Turkey oak. During this phase, females lay eggs without mating, and those eggs will produce both male and female wasps (parthenogenesis). This bisexual generation mates, and the females lay their eggs in autumn. This second phase, called agamic generation, occurs in autumn. This phase occurs on pedunculate oaks. The galls created during this phase are commonly known as knopper galls.
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Andricus quercuscalicis
Andricus quercuscalicis is a gall wasp species inducing knopper galls.
Knopper galls develop as a chemically induced distortion of growing acorns on pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) trees, caused by gall wasps, which lay eggs in buds with their ovipositor. The gall thus produced can greatly reduce the fecundity of the oak host, making this gall potentially more of a threat to the reproductive ability of the tree than those that develop on leaves, buds, stems, etc.
The large 2 cm gall growth appears as a mass of green to yellowish-green, ridged, and at first sticky plant tissue on the bud of the oak, that breaks out as the gall between the cup and the acorn. If only a few grubs are developing within, then it may appear only as a group of bland folds. Where several grubs are competing for space the shape may become much more contorted, with several tightly bunched galls.
The word knopper derives from the German word 'Knoppe', meaning a kind of felt cap or helmet worn during the 17th century; also a small rounded protuberance, often decorative, such as a stud, a tassel or a knob.
Although normally distinctive the knopper gall can, under some growth conditions, be mistaken for the acorn cup gall, caused by the gall wasp Andricus grossulariae.
A number of insect inquilines live harmlessly within the knopper gall and some of these, as well as A. quercuscalicis itself, are parasitised by insects referred to as parasitoids.
Andricus quercuscalicis (Burgsdorf, 1783) (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) is a small gall wasp with an obligate two-phase life-cycle that requires both pedunculate oak (Q. robur L.) (or occasionally sessile oak Q. petraea L.) and Turkey oak (Quercus cerris L.).[citation needed]
The first phase, occurs in spring in small conical galls that form on the male catkins of the Turkey oak. During this phase, females lay eggs without mating, and those eggs will produce both male and female wasps (parthenogenesis). This bisexual generation mates, and the females lay their eggs in autumn. This second phase, called agamic generation, occurs in autumn. This phase occurs on pedunculate oaks. The galls created during this phase are commonly known as knopper galls.
