Neuroterus politus Hartig, 1840
on Quercus, agamous generation
Quercus robur, Dronten, Roggebotse Bos, 2.v.2022 © Arnold Grosscurt
Quercus robur, Belgium, prov. Antwerp, Mol, 30.iv.2015 © Carina Van Steenwinkel
beginning gall
ripe gall; the remnant of the loculi still clearly recognisable
one week later
Quercus robur, Belgium, prov. Antwerp, Mol, 26.iv.2020 © Carina Van Steenwinkel: four anthers with young galls; the galls develop in the purplish tissue between the two dark green pollen chambers; neither the pollen chambers nor the grey filament participate in the galling.
opened gall with larva
another specimen
Quercus robur, Belgium, prov. Antwerp, Keyfheide-Meerhout, 1.v.2015 © Carina Van Steenwinkel: the galls may be quite numerous
Quercus robur, Spain, A Coruña, Cesuras, 11.iv.2009 © Jordi Montobbio
3.iv.2012: another specimen
The agamous generation makes a tiny unilocular gall, hardly over one milimeter, in the connective of a stamen. Initially the anthers remain well distinguishable.
host plants
Fagaceae, monophagous
Quercus faginea, lusitanica, petraea & subsp. iberica, pubescens, pyrenaica, robur.
Preference for Q. pubesccens.
Quercus robur (from Houard, 1908a)
Quercus robur, Amsterdamse Bos, 26.iv.2026 ©
Cor Zonneveld: vateed gal
opened gall
Quercus robur, Belgium, prov. Antwerp, Meerhout, de Hutten 24.iv.2015 © Carina Van Steenwinkel: occupied gall
Quercus robur, Belgium, prov. Antwerp, Balen, 26.iv.2015 © Carina Van Steenwinkel: vacated galls
Quercus robur, Belgium, prov. Antwerp, Mol, Galbergen, 28.iv.2015 © Carina Van Steenwinkel: the bud scales participate in the gall formation
Quercus robur, Dronten, Roggebotsebos, 4.iv.2020 © Arnold Grosscurt: the gall is (still) completely hidden by the bud scales
in transverse section they turn out as two, succulent, galls
Quercus robur Belgium, prov. Namur, Étang de Virelles, 9.vi.2015 © Stéphane Claerebout
Quercus robur, Spain, A Coruña, Cesuras, 8.iv.2009 © Jordi Montobbio
opened gall with pupa
Quercus robur, Spain, A Coruña, O Pino, 10.iv.2009 © Jordi Montobbio: vacated gall
Quercus robur, Schiedam, Pr. Beatrixpark, 21.iv.2012 © Ben van As
gall
About 1 cm long pale green gall, at the tip of a young shoot, consisting of an already unfolding leaf bud (generally a terminal bud). The bud scales participate in the gall, often only their ultimate tips remain brown and scarious. The wall is thin and encloses a spacious gall chamber. The development starts in early spring and is so fast that sometimes galls are already vacated before the foliage is unfolded. The gall matures in May; then it starts to shrivel and remains recognisable only by the distorted bud.
host plants
Fagaceae, monophagous
Quercus petraea, pubescens, pyrenaica, robur.
distribution within Europe
PESI (2024).
synonyms
Neuroterus aprilinus Giraud, 1859; N. petioliventris (Hartig, 1840); N. schlechtendali Mayr, 1870.
parasitoids, predators
Mesopolobus fuscipes, tibialis; Ormyrus pomaceus.
references
Askew (1961b), Béguinot (2000b, 2002a, 2003b, 2007b), Bellmann (2012a), Blanes-Dalmau, Caballero-López & Pujade-Villar (2017a), Buhr (1965a), Burton, Ellis & Schneider (2022a), Chinery (2011a), Dauphin & Aniotsbehere (1997), Eady & Quinlan (1963a), Ecott (2012a), Gómez, Hernández Nieves, Garrido Torres, ao (2006a), Grosscurt (2025a), Hellrigl (2009a, 2010a), Hellrigl & Bodur (2015a), Houard (1908a), Katılmış & Kıyak (2008a), Koops (2013a), Kwast (2012a, 2014a), Melika (2006a, 2018a), Melika, Csóka & Pujade-Villar (2000a), Nieves-Aldrey (2001a), Nieves-Aldrey, Gómez, Hernández Nieves & Lobo (2006a), Redfern & Shirley (2011a), Roskam (2009a), Tavares (1905a), Vilarrubia Garet (1956a), Williams (2010a).