Rabdophaga karschi (Kieffer, 1891)

on Salix

Salix aurita, France, dép. Ardennes, Monthermé, xii.2021 © Sébastien Carbonelle

Salix spec. (from Houard, 1908a)

two galls in Salix aurita, with empty pupal skins (from Stelter, 1980a)

gall

All-sided swelling of a young shoot, c. one cm long and 3 mm thick. The gall often lies at the base of a one-year old twig, often several in a row. In the pith an elongated cell with a single yellow larva. The larva hibernates in the mine; in spring it pupates just under the epidermis, recognisable as a circular yellow spot.

host plants

Salicaceae, narrowly monophagous

Salix aurita, cinerea.

With question marks, Buhr adds: caprea, purpurea, repens.

larva and pupa

The larva is similar to the one of R. saliciperda, but the apical part of the spatula is lozenge-shaped with in front two sharp teeth, separated by an acute indentation. Between the prothoric horns the pupa bears a pair of strong teeth (Kieffer).

spatula (from Kieffer, 1892a)

synonyms

Cecidomyia, Rhabdophaga, karschi; Rabdophaga oculiperda (Rübsaamen, 1921).

Between about 1980 and 1990, R. karschi has incorrectly been considered a junior synonym of R. salicis.

references

Barnes (1951a), Buhr (1965a), Cogolludo (1921a), Gagné (2010a), Gagné & Jaschhof (2014a), Houard (1908a), Kieffer (1891a, 1892a), Redfern & Shirley (2011a), Roskam & Carbonnelle (2015a), Rübsaamen (1921a), Skuhravá (2009), Skuhravá & Skuhravý (2021a: 239), Skuhravá, Skuhravý, Blasco-Zumeta & Pujade-Villar (2006a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý, Dauphin & Coutin (2005a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý & Meyer (2014a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý & Neacsu (1972a), Skuhravá, Skuhravý, Skrzypczyńska & Szadziewski (2008a), Stelter (1978a, 1980a, 1988a).