Rabdophaga jaapi

Rabdophaga jaapi is a species of gall midges which forms galls on creeping willow (Salix repens).

Rabdophaga jaapi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Cecidomyiidae
Genus: Rabdophaga
Species:
R. jaapi
Binomial name
Rabdophaga jaapi
Synonyms

Dasineura repentis Skuhrava, 1986
Rabdophaga repentis

Description

The gall is an enlarged bud on S. repens. It is surrounded with small thickened leaves which have short silver-white hairs.[1] Correct identification of the species of Salix is important for the identification of R. jaapi, because it is similar to R. rosariella, which forms galls on sallows.[lower-alpha 1] The gall of R. jaapi can also be positively identified by the single reddish-yellow larva which has a sternal spatula, i.e. ″... a structure on the underside of the thorax of the final (third) instar larva of Cecidomyiidae...″.[1][2]

The species has one generation a year (i.e. univoltine) and the larva hibernates in the gall where it pupates.[3]

Distribution

Has been found in Denmark and Great Britain.

Notes
  1. In this case sallow refers to S. aurita, S. caprea and S. cinerea.

References
  1. Redfern, Margaret; Shirley, Peter; Bloxham, Michael (2011). British Plant Galls (Second ed.). Shrewsbury: FSC Publications. pp. 282–299. ISBN 978 1 85153 284 1.
  2. "Rabdophaga ?jaapi". Dorset Nature. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  3. Ellis, W N. "Rabdophaga jaapi". Plant Parasites of Europe. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
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