Biology:Massalongia rubra
| Massalongia rubra | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Cecidomyiidae |
| Genus: | Massalongia |
| Species: | M. rubra
|
| Binomial name | |
| Massalongia rubra (Kieffer, 1890)
| |
Massalongia rubra is a species of gall midge which forms galls in the leaves of birch.[1] It was first described by the France naturalist and entomologist, Jean-Jacques Kieffer in 1890 and is found in Europe.[1]
Description of the Gall
An elongate, woody swelling (up to 10 mm long) of the mid-rib of a leaf which can extend into the base of lateral veins and the petiole. The gall is more prominent on the underside of the leaf and is initially green, later red-purple and brown. Sometimes the gall is surrounded by a green island on a yellowing leaf. Each gall contains a single larve which are white or yellowish when young and red when mature, with a weak sternal spatula.[2] Mature larva leave the gall in late summer to hibernate and pupate in the soil. Adults emerge in the following spring or summer.[3]
Affected trees are silver birch (Betula pendula) and downy birch (Betula pubescens).[4]
Distribution
Massalongia rubra has been recorded from Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany , Great Britain, the Netherlands and Sweden.[4][5][6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 , Wikidata Q109561625
- ↑ Redfern, Margaret; Shirley, Peter; Boxham, Michael (2011). British Plant Galls (Second ed.). Shrewsbury: Field Study Council. pp. 52–6. ISBN 978-185153-284-1.
- ↑ Chinery, Michael (2011). Britain's Plant Galls. Old Basing, Hampshire: WildGuides Ltd. p. 37. ISBN 978-190365743-0.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Elis, W N. "Massalongia rubra (Kieffer, 1890)". https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/diptera/nematocera/cecidomyiidae/cecidomyiinae/cecidomyiidi/cecidomyiidi-unplaced/massalongia/massalongia-rubra/.
- ↑ " Massalongia rubra (Kieffer, 1890)". https://www.biolib.cz/en/taxonlists/id116949/.
- ↑ "Massalongia rubra (Kieffer 1890)". https://eol.org/pages/787915.
Wikidata ☰ Q14544071 entry
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