Contarinia pulchripes (Kieffer, 1890)
on Colutea, Cytisus, Genista
Cytisus scoparius, Denmark © Simon Haarder
opened pod with larvae; the five pear-shaped larvae probably are the parasitoid Systasis encyrtoides Walker, 1834 (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Pteromalidae).
Cytisus scoparius, Belgium, prov. Antwerp, Mechelse Heide © Carina Van Steenwinkel: galled pod
upon disturbance the larvae jumped around actively and formed a dense clump
here as well the larvae sometimes were accompanied by cf. Systasis encyrtoides.
larva of cf. Systasis encyrtoides in cocoon.
gall
Larvae in the pods that have some, c. 2 mm large warts, usually in the distal half; the inside of the pod is not lined with mycelium. Larvae gregarious,shining yellowish white; they can jump. Univoltine, hibernation in the soil.
host plants
Fabaceae, oligophagous
Colutea; Cytisus scoparius; Genista pilosa.
synonyms
Diplosis pulchripes.
notes
Parnell cites four species of Chalcidoidea of which the larvae occur as carnivores in the galls of C. pulchripes. About one of them, Systasis encyrtoides, he writes that the larva hibernates in a “siken cocoon” and pupates after the winter. Because in Chalcidoidea cocoons are a rare phenomenon, it is probable that this is the species of the non-cecidomyiid larvae in the pods.
notes
see for the parasitoid: Noyes JS, 2015. Universal Chalcidoidea Database.
references
Béguinot (2006b, 2007b), Bruun (2015a), Buhr (1964b, 1965a), Clausen (1940a), Dauphin & Aniotsbehere (1997a), Gauld & Bolton (1988a), Houard (1909a), Kieffer (1890a, 1891a), Parnell (1963a), Redfern & Shirley (2011a), Roskam (2009a), Roskam & Carbonnelle (2015a), Skuhravá & Skuhravý (1999a,b, 201a: 90), Skuhravá, Skuhravý, Dauphin & Coutin (2005a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý & Jørgensen (2006a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý & Meyer (2014a).