Thread subject: Diptera.info :: small braconid wasp (continued)
Posted by Sundew on 20-01-2008 01:21
#1
Hello,
Though ichneumonid wasps are very difficult and my photos are not the best ones, I would like to post this small female that is ovipositing in the floral heads of
Tanacetum vulgare (Asteraceae). Can you possibly tell from the plant preference which genus it belongs to?
Seen on the Baltic Island of Usedom in August.
Many thanks, Sundew
Edited by Sundew on 21-01-2008 00:27
Posted by Christian Schmid-Egger on 20-01-2008 10:38
#2
It would be impossible to say anything from the plant preference, because the wasp is attacking any insect larva inside the plant. In Asteraceae, often you will find Thevritidae (Diptera) or some Microlepidoptera.
Regards, Christian
Posted by cthirion on 20-01-2008 20:15
#3
Braconidae;)!
Posted by Xespok on 20-01-2008 21:05
#4
The diptera family you mean, is Tephritidae.
Posted by proctoss on 20-01-2008 22:51
#5
Yes, Braconidae
Posted by Sundew on 21-01-2008 00:24
#6
Another considerable gain of knowledge. Small ichneumonids are, in fact, braconids, and they parasitize only animals, not plants. And I thought I had possibly detected the source of the funny
Tanacetum galls! (The pic, however, was taken at a very distant locality from the pics above, in Brandenburg.) I have often seen larvae in the bottom of the floral heads of thistles etc., but they never caused conspicuous deformations. In the case shown, however, the primordia of single flowers grew into bizarre, sterile galls. Is anybody among us who knows the originator, braconids being innocent?
Cordially, Sundew
Edited by Sundew on 21-01-2008 00:26
Posted by cosmln on 21-01-2008 01:00
#7
about galls, i will say that belongs to an cecidomiid
Rhopalomyia tanaceticola (Karsch)
cosmln
Posted by Sundew on 21-01-2008 01:27
#8
CosmIn, you are a true genius! I googled
Rhopalomyia tanaceticola and found several gall pics absolutely identical to mine. Unfortunately, there is no pic of the gall midge itself. I saw you put another gall photo in the gallery, so would it be of use to add the
Rhopalomyia tanaceticola galls, too? They seem to be very typical.
Anyhow, many thanks for the quick ID!
Sundew
Posted by cosmln on 21-01-2008 14:22
#9
Sundew wrote:
CosmIn, you are a true genius! I googled Rhopalomyia tanaceticola and found several gall pics absolutely identical to mine. Unfortunately, there is no pic of the gall midge itself. I saw you put another gall photo in the gallery, so would it be of use to add the Rhopalomyia tanaceticola galls, too? They seem to be very typical.
Anyhow, many thanks for the quick ID!
Sundew
hihihi,
i'm not a genius. just using the books i have.
on this address (at page 16) you will find some more exact galls.
http://www.mda.state.mn.us/news/publications/pestsplants/badplants/tansybiocontrol2006report.pdf
about adding this to the gallery i will say YES, about photo of midge... collect them and wait :D
i will do that this year... i'm just curios :D
i'm just interested in them... not a specialist at all... and when i have ocasion i make some photo hoping that i can put a name there.
welcome and happy that i can help with something,
cosmln