Plant Parasites of Europe

leafminers, galls and fungi

Neuroterus politus

Neuroterus politus Hartig, 1840

on Quercus; agamous generation

Neuroterus politus on Quercus robur

Quercus robur, Dronten, Roggebotse Bos, 2.v.2022 © Arnold Grosscurt

Neuroterus politus agamous generation gall

Quercus robur, Belgium, prov. Antwerp, Mol, 30.iv.2015 © Carina Van Steenwinkel

Neuroterus politus agamous generation gall

beginning gall

Neuroterus politus agamous generation gall

ripe gall; the remnant of the loculi still clearly recognisable

Neuroterus politus agamous generation gall

one week later

Neuroterus politus in Quercus robur anther

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.

Neuroterus politus in Quercus robur anther

opened gall with larva

Neuroterus politus in Quercus robur anther

another specimen

Neuroterus politus agamous generation gall

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

Neuroterus politus: agamous anther gall on Quercus robur

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

Neuroterus politus: gall on Quercus robur

Quercus robur (from Houard, 1908a)

Neuroterus politus: gall on Quercus robur

Quercus robur, Belgium, prov. Antwerp, Meerhout, de Hutten 24.iv.2015 © Carina Van Steenwinkel: occupied gall

Neuroterus politus: gall on Quercus robur

Quercus robur, Belgium, prov. Antwerp, Balen, 26.iv.2015 © Carina Van Steenwinkel: vacated galls

Neuroterus politus: gall on Quercus robur

Quercus robur, Belgium, prov. Antwerp, Mol, Galbergen, 28.iv.2015 © Carina Van Steenwinkel: the bud scales participate in the gall formation

Neuroterus politus: gall on Quercus robur

Quercus robur, Dronten, Roggebotsebos, 4.iv.2020 © Arnold Grosscurt: the gall is (still) completely hidden by the bud scales

Neuroterus politus: gall on Quercus robur

in transverse section they turn out as two, succulent, galls

Neuroterus politus: gall on Quercus robur

Quercus robur Belgium, prov. Namur, Étang de Virelles, 9.vi.2015 © Stéphane Claerebout

Neuroterus politus: bud gall on Quercus robur

Quercus robur, Spain, A Coruña, Cesuras, 8.iv.2009 © Jordi Montobbio

Neuroterus politus: bud gall on Quercus robur

opened gall with pupa

Neuroterus politus: bud gall on Quercus robur

Quercus robur, Spain, A Coruña, O Pino, 10.iv.2009 © Jordi Montobbio: vacated gall

Neuroterus politus fm

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).

Last modified 11.iii.2023