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.
on Quercus; sexual generation
Quercus robur (from Houard, 1908a)
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.
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), Hellrigl (2009a, 2010a), Hellrigl & Bodur (2015a), Houard (1908a), Katılmış & Kıyak (2008a), Koops (2013a), Kwast (2012a, 2014a), Melika (2006a), 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).