Rabdophaga salicis

Rabdophaga salicis is a gall midge which forms galls on sallows (Salix species). It was first described by Franz von Paula Schrank in 1803.

Rabdophaga salicis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Cecidomyiidae
Genus: Rabdophaga
Species:
R. salicis
Binomial name
Rabdophaga salicis
(Schrank, 1803)
Synonyms[1]

Tipula salicis Schrank, 1803
Dasineura salicis
Rabdophaga noduli (Ruebsaamen, 1895)

Description

The gall is a smooth, globular or spindle-shaped swelling, usually on a twig or stem and contains larvae or pupae in up to fifty separate chambers. The galls are usually 10–40 mm long and about 10 mm wide and the larvae feed on the pith inside the gall.[2] The gall, does not contain frass, and occasionally occurs on the petiole, midrib,[lower-alpha 1] or side veins of a leaf. The larva are pale orange or reddish, over-winter in the gall and pupate in the spring.[2][3][4] In Britain the gall is widespread and common and is found on creeping willow (Salix repens), eared willow (S. aurita), grey willow (S. cinerea) and goat willow (S. caprea). Correct identification of the host plant is necessary; the similar looking gall on purple willow (S. purpurea) is Rabdophaga degeerii.[3] Elsewhere the gall has been recorded on mountain willow (S. arbuscula), weeping willow (S. babylonica), European violet willow (S. daphnoides), olive willow (S. elaeagnos), S. excelsa, S. glabra and dark-leaved willow (S. myrsinites).[4]

Distribution

Recorded from Belgium, Great Britain, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Slovakia.[3][4][5]

Inquilines

The inquiline Lestodiplosis gammae has been found in this gall and has also been found in the gall of R. saliciperda.[4][6]

Notes
  1. A similar looking gall, Rabdophaga nervorum, also develops on the midrib; the larva is pale yellow.[3]

References
  1. "Rabdophaga salicis (Schrank, 1803)". PESI portal. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  2. Chinery, Michael (2011). Britain's Plant Galls. A photographic guide. Old Basing, Hampshire: WildGuides Ltd. p. 64. ISBN 978 190365743 0.
  3. Redfern, Margaret; Shirley, Peter; Boxham, Michael (2011). British Plant Galls (Second ed.). Shrewsbury: Field Study Council. pp. 282–299. ISBN 978 185153 284 1.
  4. Ellis, W N. "Rabdophaga salicis (Schrank, 1803)". Plant Parasites of Europe. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  5. Zubrik, Milan. "gall midges Rabdophaga salicis (Schrank, 1803)". invasive.org. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  6. Ellis, W N. "Rabdophaga saliciperda (Dufour, 1841)". Plant Parasites of Europe. Retrieved 27 March 2018.

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