Amphibolips nubilipennis

Amphibolips nubilipennis, known generally as the translucent oak gall wasp, is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae. Its range includes Ontario, Quebec, and much of the eastern United States.[1][2] Hosts include Quercus buckleyi, Quercus coccinea, Quercus falcata, Quercus ilicifolia, Quercus imbricaria, Quercus marilandica, Quercus rubra, and Quercus velutina.[3]

Amphibolips nubilipennis
The translucent oak gall, induced by the sexual generation of Amphibolips nubilipennis.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Cynipidae
Genus: Amphibolips
Species:
A. nubilipennis
Binomial name
Amphibolips nubilipennis
Harris, 1841

The translucent oak gall is induced by the sexual generation of Amphibolips nubilipennis.[3] This gall is succulent and accumulates high concentration of malic acid causing a low pH of gall tissues. The extreme acidity of the translucent oak gall tissues has been proposed to represent a defensive strategy against parasitoid wasps.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Species Amphibolips nubilipennis – Translucent Oak Gall Wasp". bugguide.net. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  2. ^ "translucent oak gall wasp Amphibolips nubilipennis Harris, 1841". www.invasive.org. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Amphibolips nubilipennis (sexgen)". www.gallformers.org. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  4. ^ Guiguet, Antoine; McCartney, Nathaniel B.; Gilbert, Kadeem J.; Tooker, John F.; Deans, Andrew R.; Ali, Jared G.; Hines, Heather M. (1 March 2023). "Extreme acidity in a cynipid gall: a potential new defensive strategy against natural enemies". Biology Letters. 19 (3): 20220513. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2022.0513. ISSN 1744-957X. PMC 9975648. PMID 36855854. S2CID 257233541.