Centaurea jacea, Belgium, prov. East Flanders, Overboelare, Geraardsbergen, late september @ Bart Uitterhaegen: vertically enlarged receptacle with three opened gall chambers

larva, head downwards, in the gall chamber

gall

one or more larvae (maggots) live, each in its own vertical cell, in the upwards thickened and lignified receptacle; here also the pupation takes place. Because the gall acts as a nutrient sink, the plant’s vitality is reduced.

host plants

Asteraceae, narrowly monophagous

Centaurea calcitrapa, hanrii subsp. spinabadia, iberica, jacea, nigra, phrygia, solstitialis.

synonyms

Euribia jaceana.

notes

The gall can be found by pinching the old flower heads in autumn.

references

Baugnée (2006a), Béguinot (2001c), Buhr (1964b), Dauphin & Aniotsbehere (1997a), Flügel (2016a), Khaghaninia & Gharajedaghi (2012a), Khaghaninia, Gharajedaghi, Zarghani & Pour Abad (2012a), Kütük, Yaran, Torbali, ao (2019a), Lutovinovas (2014a), Máca (2012a), Neuenschwander & Freidberg (1983a), Niblett (1940a), Redfern & Shirley (2011a), Roskam (2009a), Smnit (2010a), Spooner & Bowdrey (2012a), White (1988a), White & Korneyev (1998a).