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Title: A NEW SPECIES OF INVASIVE GALL WASP (HYMENOPTERA: EULOPHIDAE: TETRASTICHINAE) ON BLUE GUM (EUCALYPTUS GLOBULUS) IN CALIFORNIA

Author
item LASALLE, J - Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
item ARAKELIAN, G - California Department Of Agriculture
item GARRISON, R - California Department Of Food And Agriculture
item Gates, Michael

Submitted to: Zootaxa
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/6/2009
Publication Date: 5/29/2009
Citation: Lasalle, J., Arakelian, G., Garrison, R., Gates, M.W. 2009. A new species of invasive gall wasp (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae: Tetrastichinae) on blue gum (Eucalyptus Globulus) in California. Zootaxa. 2121:35-43.

Interpretive Summary: Many parasitic wasps damage plants by inducing galls that may deform or even kill plants. Recently, several species of gall wasp attacking Eucalyptus have spread worldwide, causing millions of dollars in damage. The Blue Gum is one of the most widely cultivated and widely planted of Australia's native Eucalyptus. It is valuable both as an ornamental/windbreak tree and commercially for its value in fuelwood, pulpwood and a primary source of medicinal eucalyptus oil production. This paper describes a new species of invasive parasitic wasp that forms galls and produces extensive damage to this tree in California. It is paradoxical in that the wasp may be considered beneficial where Blue Gum is spreading invasively and pestiferous where Blue Gum is desirable or has commercial value. The information presented in this paper will be of great interest to biological control workers, ecologists, port identifiers, and regulatory agencies.

Technical Abstract: The blue gum gall wasp, Selitrichodes globulus La Salle & Gates (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae: Tetrastichinae), is described as an invasive gall inducer on blue gum, Eucalyptus globulus (Myrtaceae), in California.